A mother in Port Harcourt is calling for justice after a devastating crash allegedly involving a learner driver tore through her home and killed her three young children in a tragedy that has shaken the city.
The tragic incident, which has sparked outrage across Nigeria, occurred on May 15 in the Ogbunabali area of Rivers State.
According to eyewitness accounts, a man was allegedly teaching his girlfriend how to drive when she suddenly lost control of the vehicle. The car reportedly veered off the road and crashed into a residential building, killing three siblings aged 10, four and three instantly.
Their mother, Mrs Amarachi Promise Esomonu, has since become the emotional face of the tragedy after a viral video showed her recounting the horrifying moment she recovered the bodies of her children from the wreckage.
Her grief-stricken testimony has triggered widespread sympathy online, while intensifying public anger over what many Nigerians have described as a preventable tragedy.
Residents who witnessed the incident described scenes of panic and chaos as the vehicle slammed into the house where the children were reportedly preparing for school.
One eyewitness said the car accelerated suddenly after the learner-driver lost control.
“The children were inside the house with their mother when it happened,” the witness said. “Everything happened within seconds.”
The incident has also generated controversy over allegations that the man supervising the driving lesson briefly attempted to switch seats with the driver after the crash in what neighbours interpreted as an effort to evade responsibility.
According to residents, he was prevented from leaving the scene by the children’s mother and other bystanders before authorities arrived.
In the now-viral footage circulating online, Mrs Esomonu described the devastating emptiness left behind by the deaths of her children.
She said she still wakes up each morning out of habit, only to remember there are no children left to prepare for school.
Beyond her grief, the mother also expressed fears that the case could be quietly buried without accountability, alleging attempts were already being made to suppress the matter.
Her claims have further amplified calls for a transparent investigation and possible criminal prosecution.
The Rivers State Police Command confirmed the incident and said a full-scale investigation had been launched.
Police spokesperson Blessing Agabe said the command was deeply saddened by the tragedy and committed to uncovering the full circumstances surrounding the crash.
Commissioner of Police Olugbenga Adepoju also extended condolences to the bereaved family and assured the public that justice would be pursued.
Authorities urged residents to remain calm and avoid spreading unverified claims while investigations continue.
Legal experts say the case could potentially result in serious criminal charges, including manslaughter or dangerous driving causing death, depending on the findings of investigators.
Questions surrounding licensing, insurance compliance and the legality of conducting informal driving lessons in residential neighbourhoods are also expected to form part of the investigation.
The tragedy has reignited broader concerns over unsafe driving practices in densely populated residential areas across Nigeria, where informal driving lessons remain common despite repeated warnings from safety advocates.
As public pressure mounts, many Nigerians are now demanding swift accountability, while the haunting testimony of a mother mourning three children continues to dominate conversation online.
Neither of the individuals allegedly involved in the incident has issued a public statement, and police have not publicly clarified whether formal arrests have been made beyond the initial intervention by residents at the scene.
Authorities say updates will be provided as investigations progress.
