Renowned Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie has publicly accused a private medical facility in Lagos, Euracare Hospital, of being responsible for the death of her young son. The 21-month-old boy, Nkanu, passed away on January 7, 2026, following a series of medical procedures.
A Mother's Heartbreaking Account
In a private text message seen by The Guardian on Saturday, January 10, 2026, Adichie provided a detailed and emotional account of the events leading to her son's demise. Her media team confirmed the authenticity of the message. Adichie stated that her son initially showed symptoms of a cold, which later developed into a serious infection, leading to his admission at Atlantis Hospital.
The family was preparing to travel to Baltimore, United States, where a medical team from the prestigious Johns Hopkins Hospital was awaiting them. Prior to the flight, doctors recommended a lumbar puncture and an MRI scan. Additionally, a 'central line' was to be inserted to administer intravenous medication during the journey.
Atlantis Hospital referred the family to Euracare Hospital, describing it as the best place to have these procedures performed. On the morning of January 6, Adichie, her husband, and Nkanu went to Euracare for the scheduled tests.
Alleged Negligence During Procedures
Adichie explained that medical staff informed her Nkanu would need sedation to keep him still during the MRI and the central line insertion. While waiting outside, she saw people, including a doctor identified as Dr. M, rush into the theatre, signaling that something had gone wrong.
"A short time later, Dr. M came out and told me Nkanu had been given too much propofol by the anesthesiologist, had become unresponsive, and was quickly resuscitated," Adichie recounted. The situation rapidly deteriorated. The child was placed on a ventilator, intubated, and moved to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). He later suffered seizures and cardiac arrest, events that had never occurred before. Nkanu died hours later.
Adichie's message contained severe allegations against the attending anesthesiologist. She claimed Nkanu was never monitored after receiving the excessive dose of propofol. "The anesthesiologist had just casually carried Nkanu on his shoulder to the theatre, so nobody knew when exactly Nkanu became unresponsive," she wrote.
She further alleged that after the central line procedure, the same doctor "casually switched off Nkanu's oxygen and again decided to carry him on his shoulder to the ICU."
Questions Over Hospital Oversight and Lasting Grief
The celebrated author raised serious concerns about the hospital's management, revealing she had heard of two previous cases involving the same anesthesiologist. She questioned why the hospital allowed him to continue practicing despite these prior incidents.
"We brought in a child who was unwell but stable and scheduled to travel the next day. We came to conduct basic procedures. And suddenly, our beautiful boy was gone forever," Adichie stated. She described the experience as "living your worst nightmare" and expressed the profound, enduring pain of her loss: "I will never survive the loss of my child."
When contacted by The Guardian on Saturday afternoon, a staff member at Euracare Hospital said the person authorized to comment on the incident was not on duty. The newspaper was advised to call back on Monday, January 12.
The tragedy has cast a spotlight on standards of care in private Nigerian healthcare facilities and the accountability of medical professionals, with a grieving mother's private anguish becoming a public plea for answers.
