Lamentations as Anambra family buries 3 victims of Lagos explosion

The deceased corpses 

Deceased aged mother, brothers and sisters 

By Okechukwu Onuegbu

It was a mourning galore with everyone holding their jaw on palm, shaking head vigorously in outer bewilderment or amidst tears as the remains of three families that lost their lives on March 15, 2020 Lagos explosion, were laid to rest at their country home at Avomimi village in Enugwu-Ukwu community, Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra state.


The deceased, Mr Obi Iyooh, aged 60 (husband), his wife, Mrs Obiagaeli, aged 55, and their 30-year-old son, Mr  Onyekachi Iyooh were reported to have been trapped in their vehicle while they were about driving out of home to Church around 9am. when an explosion rocked Eroko Road, Abule-Ado in Amuwo Odofin Council Area of Lagos State.

The businessman and his family reportedly died together with their house help, leaving their three children (residing at US), 80-year-old mother, Mrs Doris (residing in the village), and other family members and friends to mourn them. But a family source said it was Head of his Sales-boy who rushed in him to rescue them during the blast was trapped together with them.


The acting Zonal Coordinator of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mr. Ibrahim Farinloye, had while reacting to the incident confirmed that among the bodies recovered were those of a family of four believed to be heading to church when they were caught in the explosion. About 20 other persons equally lost their lives and properties at the explosion whose source had not been officially explained.


But a family friend, Rev. Mike Ekwealor, whose daughter, Miss Precious lived with them for over five years, said they left the deceased to church by public transportation before the unfortunate incident.


“I am a pastor at Imo state. I joined the family after a church programme I attended at Lagos on Saturday.  The following day, my daughter Precious who had been living with them as a house help for over five years left to church as at 6.30am because of youth programme they had that day. She left through motorcycle saying she never wanted to bother Dad and Mum (Obi and wife) who were asleep then.


“I too prepared to church but when I was about leaving at about 8.30am, they were already up and asked me to wait so that we can leave together. I begged them that I don’t want to be late in church. I had to take bike (motorcycle) too. I was walking into the church when a sound of explosion rocked; the whole church building were affected. On inquiry, I was told there was an explosion. I tried contacting our Dad and Mum but none was responding to their call. I ran back only to discover they have gone. The blast got them at front of their house. We lost everything. Their late son was about to wed in two weeks,” Ekwealor lamented.


Delivering a homily at the burial, Rev. Mike Omekaoma, of the Assemblies of God Church, Njikoka zone, charged Christians to be shining examples and lights in their communities, homes and the country.

Omekaoma said that current events had made it imperative for Christians to live with the fear of God and be good to fellow human beings, having been granted freedom of choice by God.


On his part, Mr Solomon Okafor, a maternal relative of the deasceaed, urged religious leaders to guide their faithful well and teach them how to maintain the smallest unit of the society which is the family.


A community leader, Mrs Ngozi Mbachi, while speaking based on the past lives of the deceased husband and wife, urged women to be 'good' home maker by showing love to all members of the family they were married into.


Others, Mrs Amaka Ide, Mrs Christy Ilikwu and Mr Chiadi Mbachi, a family friend  to the deceased, described their death as a tragedy both to the family and the community, and prayed God to grant their aged matriarch and others left to mourn them fortitude to bear the loss.


The only surviving brother to late Obi, Mr Charles Iyooh, while welcoming sympathizers, said the family was still in shock that their elder brother, wife and nephews had gone the way of the mortal.