What was meant to be a quiet family Christmas visit to Lagos has now become the centre of a deeply painful public conversation.
Celebrated Nigerian writer Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie has shared a heartbreaking account of how her 21-month-old son, Nkanu Nnamdi, died following what she describes as severe medical negligence at a Lagos hospital.
Private Grief That Became Public Knowledge
The account came to light after ARISE News reported that Adichie’s media team confirmed she personally wrote a detailed statement explaining the circumstances surrounding her son’s death.
According to her representatives, the message was never intended for public release and was originally shared only with close family members and trusted friends.
A Sudden Illness During the Holidays
Adichie explained that her family had travelled to Lagos for Christmas when Nkanu developed symptoms they initially believed were minor.
They soon realised it was far more serious.
The toddler’s condition worsened into a significant infection, leading to his admission at Atlantis Hospital.
Despite being unwell, Adichie stressed that her son was stable and already scheduled to fly to the United States the next day for further treatment.
Plans to Fly to the US for Advanced Care
According to Adichie, medical teams in the United States were already preparing to receive her son.
Doctors at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore were standing by and had requested two procedures — a lumbar puncture and an MRI scan — ahead of his arrival.
To carry out these tests, Atlantis Hospital referred the family to Euracare Hospital, which they were told was the best-equipped facility for the procedures.
The Procedures That Changed Everything
On the morning of January 6, the family left Atlantis Hospital for Euracare.
Nkanu was carried in his father’s arms.
Doctors decided to insert a central line to prepare him for his flight and sedate him so he would remain still during the MRI.
Adichie said she waited just outside the theatre.
Moments later, she noticed medical staff, including a doctor she identified as Dr M, rushing back into the room — a sight that immediately made her fear something had gone terribly wrong.
Claims of Excessive Sedation
Shortly after, Adichie said she was informed that the anesthesiologist had administered too much propofol to her son.
She was told that Nkanu had become unresponsive but had initially been resuscitated.
What followed, however, was a rapid medical decline that shocked the family.
A Rapid and Unexplained Deterioration
According to Adichie, her son was suddenly placed on a ventilator, intubated, and moved to the intensive care unit.
Soon after, she was told he had begun experiencing seizures.
Then came the most devastating news — cardiac arrest. Within hours, her son was gone.
She emphasized that none of these complications had occurred before the procedures at Euracare Hospital.
Allegations of Failure to Monitor a Sedated Child
Adichie’s statement accuses the anesthesiologist of failing to properly monitor her son after sedation.
She claimed that no one could say exactly when Nkanu became unresponsive because he was not under proper observation.
She also alleged that after the central line procedure, the anesthesiologist switched off her son’s oxygen and carried him casually to the ICU — actions she described as reckless and shocking.
“Criminally Negligent” — A Mother’s Accusation
In strong and emotional language, Adichie described the anesthesiologist’s conduct as criminally negligent.
She said no proper medical protocol was followed and accused him of being dangerously casual with a child’s life.
Her family, she said, brought in a sick but stable toddler for routine medical procedures — only to lose him unexpectedly.
A Loss That Words Cannot Carry
Adichie described the pain as unimaginable, saying the loss of her child feels like living inside a nightmare with no end.
She said plainly that she does not know how she will survive the death of her son, calling him a beautiful little boy taken far too soon.
Troubling Allegations of Past Incidents
The writer also revealed that the family later learned of at least two previous cases in which the same anesthesiologist allegedly overdosed children.
She questioned why Euracare Hospital allowed him to continue practising and insisted that such a tragedy must never be allowed to happen to another child.
Euracare Hospital’s Brief Response
When contacted for comment, a spokesperson for Euracare Hospital declined to address the allegations publicly, stating only that any information should be discussed directly between the hospital and Chimamanda Adichie.
National Outpouring of Sympathy
Nkanu’s death was initially reported as following a brief illness.
Since then, messages of condolence have poured in from across Nigeria and beyond.
President Bola Tinubu, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, and former presidential candidate Peter Obi were among prominent figures who publicly expressed sympathy to Adichie and her family.
What Happens Next?
As grief turns into questions, attention is now shifting toward accountability.
With serious allegations of negligence and prior incidents involving the same medical professional, many are watching closely to see whether investigations will follow — and whether changes will be made to prevent another family from enduring such a devastating loss.
Share on Facebook «||» Share on Twitter «||» Share on Reddit «||» Share on LinkedIn