Renowned Nigerian author, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, has alleged that medical negligence led to the death of her 21-month-old son, Nkanu Nnamdi, at a Lagos hospital.
ARISE News reported on Saturday that Adichie’s media team confirmed she authored a statement describing the circumstances surrounding the incident. The statement, they said, was initially shared privately with family members and close friends.
According to Adichie, her son was taken to Euracare Hospital for an MRI scan and the insertion of a central line after being referred from Atlantis Hospital. She said Nkanu was sedated for the procedures but was allegedly not properly monitored after being administered propofol, resulting in severe complications.
Adichie stated that her son “would be alive today” but for what occurred at Euracare Hospital on January 6, 2026.
She explained that the family had travelled to Lagos for Christmas when Nkanu developed symptoms they initially believed were a cold, which later worsened into a serious infection. He was admitted to Atlantis Hospital and was scheduled to be flown to the United States the following day with accompanying doctors. A medical team at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore had requested a lumbar puncture and an MRI ahead of his arrival.
Atlantis Hospital, she said, referred them to Euracare Hospital, which was described as the best facility to carry out the procedures. The Nigerian medical team also decided to insert a central line in preparation for the flight.
On the morning of January 6, Adichie said her son was taken to Euracare, carried by his father. She was told sedation was required to prevent movement during the MRI and central line procedure.
“I was waiting just outside the theatre. I saw people, including Dr M, rushing into the theatre and immediately knew something had gone wrong,” she said.
Adichie said she was later informed that her son had been given an excessive dose of propofol by the anesthesiologist, causing him to become unresponsive before he was resuscitated.
She added that Nkanu was subsequently placed on a ventilator, intubated, and admitted to the intensive care unit, where he developed seizures and later suffered cardiac arrest.
“Suddenly, Nkanu was on a ventilator. Then I heard he had seizures. Cardiac arrest. These things had never happened before. Some hours later, Nkanu was gone,” she said.
Adichie further alleged that her son was not monitored after sedation and accused the anesthesiologist of criminal negligence.
“It turns out that Nkanu was never monitored after being given too much propofol. Nobody knows exactly when he became unresponsive,” she said, adding that proper medical protocols were not followed.
She described the loss as devastating, noting that the family had brought in a child who was ill but stable for what were meant to be routine procedures.
“Our beautiful little boy was suddenly gone forever. It is like living your worst nightmare,” she said.
Adichie also claimed the family later learned of previous incidents involving the same anesthesiologist and questioned why he was still allowed to practise.
“This must never happen to another child,” she said.
When contacted, a spokesperson for Euracare Hospital declined detailed comment, saying, “Whatever information you need, you get it between us and Chimamanda.”
PUNCH Online had earlier reported that Nkanu died after a brief illness. Following news of his death, several prominent Nigerians, including President Bola Tinubu, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi, expressed condolences to Adichie and her family.
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