Amid the worsening hardship in the country, a mother of three has committed suicide after dumping her children at a police station in Enugu.
The development threw residents of Enugu into tears, with the issue being discussed at many gatherings and on various social media channels on Wednesday.
Reports say the distressed woman left the children at the police station and ran under a moving vehicle.
The woman, whose names could not be ascertained at press time, walked into the Ogui Road police station with the children, handed them over to officers, stripped herself, and ran under the moving vehicle, which crushed her to death.
The ages of the three children are reportedly two, four and six years.
Her husband, apparently unable to cope with the pressure of the rising cost of living, reportedly fled from home months ago, abandoning his family.
Asked about their father, the eldest of the children simply said he was lost.
She could not give any other information about their family, town, or residential address.
Wife of Enugu State governor, Nkechinyere Mbah, who rushed to the police station after learning about the incident, was told that the woman might have suffered depression.
Mrs. Mbah, who was touched by the tragedy, said she would take care of the children and train them from nursery school to university.
She announced that sponsorship for the children would be undertaken by her Custos Care Foundation.
She also directed the immediate relocation of the children from the station to a home, where the State government could take care of them.
She urged people who suffer depression to seek counsellng and avoid rash decisions.
She also urged the Commissioner, Ministry of Children, Gender and Social Development, Ngozi Enih, to intensify sensitisation and counseling, especially for the depressed.
As of the time of filing this report on Wednesday, the Enugu State Police Command is yet to issue a statement on the incident.