LAGOS, Nigeria – Renowned Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie has released a deeply emotional statement detailing the circumstances surrounding the death of her 21-month-old son, Nkanu Nnamdi, alleging grave medical negligence during his treatment in Lagos.
ARISE News confirmed that the statement was authored by Adichie herself, with her media team explaining that it was initially shared privately with close family members and friends before finding its way into the public space.
According to Adichie, her son fell ill while the family was in Lagos for the Christmas holidays. What first appeared to be a mild cold rapidly developed into a serious infection, leading to his admission at Atlantis Hospital. Plans were already in place for Nkanu to be flown to the United States the following day, January 7, accompanied by travelling doctors, with a medical team at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore prepared to receive him.
She explained that doctors recommended an MRI scan, a lumbar puncture, and the insertion of a central line to prepare him for the journey. Atlantis Hospital subsequently referred the family to Euracare Hospital, which they were told was best equipped to carry out the procedures.
Adichie recounted that on the morning of January 6, Nkanu was taken to Euracare, carried by his father. She was informed that he would be sedated to prevent movement during the procedures. While waiting outside the theatre, she noticed medical staff rushing in, immediately sensing that something had gone wrong.
Moments later, a doctor reportedly told her that Nkanu had been administered an excessive dose of propofol by the anesthesiologist, became unresponsive, and was resuscitated. However, events quickly escalated. Nkanu was intubated, placed on a ventilator, transferred to the intensive care unit, and later developed seizures and suffered cardiac arrest. He died hours later.
In her account, Adichie alleged that her son was never properly monitored after the sedative was administered, noting that the anesthesiologist allegedly carried the child casually without medical supervision, making it unclear when he became unresponsive. She further claimed that oxygen was switched off after the procedure before her son was moved to the ICU.
Describing the incident as “criminal negligence,” Adichie accused the anesthesiologist of failing to follow basic medical protocols and being recklessly careless with her child’s life. She said her son had been unwell but stable and was expected to travel abroad for further treatment the next day.
The writer also disclosed that the family later learned of previous cases in which the same anesthesiologist had reportedly overdosed children, raising serious questions about why he was allowed to continue practising.
Adichie concluded her statement by expressing the depth of her grief and calling for accountability, stressing that no other family should ever experience such a loss.
As of the time of this report, Euracare Hospital has not publicly responded to the allegations.
