Driving Lesson Turns Deadly: How a Learner Driver Crushed Three Siblings to Death in Rivers

Driving Lesson Turns Deadly: How a Learner Driver Crushed Three Siblings to Death in Rivers

PORT HARCOURT — A woman, Amarachi Promise Esomonu, has demanded justice after losing her three children in a tragic accident in the Ogbunabali area of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, describing the horror of having to collect her son’s remains from the ground with her bare hands.

It was gathered that a yet-to-be-identified man was allegedly teaching his girlfriend how to drive when the woman, who was behind the wheel, rammed into the family’s residence, killing the three children, all of whom were toddlers. The fatal crash occurred around 8:30 p.m. on May 15, 2026, when a car reportedly veered off the road along the Eastern Bypass and crashed into the family’s residential compound, where the children were gathered outside. The impact killed three siblings aged 10, 4, and 3 years instantly.

A resident of the area, who spoke on condition of anonymity, described the scene to Daily Trust. “They were at home in Ogbunabali when this happened. A young man was teaching his girlfriend how to drive. So, as she was driving, people started shouting. Before we knew it, the car had rammed into the woman’s house. That was how her three children lost their lives. It is very painful, and the mother has been crying because the children were all going to school.” Another eyewitness who identified himself as Obua told The Eagle Online that the car lost control, rammed into the woman’s house, and killed the three children on the spot.

Speaking to journalists amid tears and grief, Mrs Esomonu revealed the full horror of the aftermath. She said she had briefly stepped out to answer a phone call moments before the tragedy occurred. When she returned, she was met with an unimaginable scene. In a viral video that has since circulated widely on social media, drawing an outpouring of public anger and calls for justice, the distraught mother described the horror of having to gather her children’s bodies herself. “This is where I lost my three kids. I had to pick my son’s intestine out from this place, and they are not saying anything about it,” she said, gesturing at the scene of the crash.

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In an emotional appeal, Mrs Esomonu tearfully called on Nigerians and human rights activists to intervene and ensure justice for her late children. “This is the cry of a mother who lost her three kids all because of careless driving, and they are not saying anything about it. I lost my three kids, 10, 4, and 3 years old, and they are not saying anything about it. They are trying to sweep it under the carpet,” she said in the viral video. “My children will not just go like that. I lost my three kids all because of a careless person. They should not let them go scot-free. The lives of my kids should not just go like that. VeryDarkMan should please fight for me, all Nigerians should fight for me,” she pleaded.

The grieving mother further lamented that those responsible for the tragedy had shown little concern, saying she thinks about her children every day. She revealed that the alarm she usually sets to prepare her children for school still rings every weekday morning, but the children are no longer there. “Every day I wake up in the morning and remember them. Every day, my alarm rings, but there are no children for me to prepare for school again. Their killers are comfortable. They are not saying anything,” she said amid tears.

Mrs Esomonu further alleged that immediately after the crash, the female driver and her boyfriend attempted to flee the scene but were stopped by residents and members of the community who gathered following the loud impact. According to her, the intervention of residents prevented the suspects from escaping before security operatives later arrived at the scene. The grieving mother also accused medical personnel at the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital and other health facilities of negligence, alleging that the injured victims – including her domestic staff and another daughter who sustained serious injuries – were denied prompt emergency medical attention after they were rushed to the hospital for treatment. She claimed that delays in medical response worsened the condition of the injured survivors, adding that the family had to struggle to secure urgent care during the critical moments following the crash.

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Confirming the incident, the Rivers State Police Public Relations Officer, Grace Iringe-Kogo Agabe (also referred to as ASP Blessing Agabe in some reports – she recently took over as PPRO in April 2026), said the Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adepoju, had ordered a thorough investigation into the matter. While commiserating with the bereaved family, Agabe said the tragic incident had generated widespread grief and concern across the state. She stated that the CP extended his condolences to the family and assured them that justice would be served.

“The Rivers State Police Command is deeply saddened by the tragic incident, which reportedly claimed the lives of three children from the same family. The unfortunate development has generated widespread grief and concern within the state,” the statement read. “The Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adepoju, extends his heartfelt condolences and profound sympathy to the bereaved family during this difficult and painful period. He prays that God grants the family the strength and fortitude to bear this irreparable loss.”

The statement further assured that the command had commenced a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident. “The Commissioner of Police wishes to assure the affected family and the general public that the command has commenced a thorough investigation into the incident. He further reassures all concerned that every necessary step will be taken to ensure that justice is not only served but also manifestly seen to be served in accordance with the law. The command remains committed to uncovering the circumstances surrounding the incident and ensuring that anyone found culpable is brought to justice,” the statement read.

Agabe urged members of the public to remain calm, avoid spreading unverified information, and cooperate with investigators as inquiries continue. “The Rivers State Police Command once again sympathises with the bereaved family and reiterates its unwavering commitment to the protection of lives and the pursuit of justice,” the statement added.

Residents of the Ogbunabali community who witnessed the aftermath of the incident described the scene as horrific, saying the crash caused panic and confusion in the neighbourhood. Some residents blamed excessive speeding and reckless driving along the busy Eastern Bypass corridor, calling on authorities to strengthen traffic enforcement and road safety measures in the area to prevent future tragedies. The incident has also reignited broader conversations about road safety, accountability, and the treatment of victims in the wake of traffic accidents across Nigeria.

Driving Lesson Turns Deadly: How a Learner Driver Crushed Three Siblings to Death in Rivers