In a heartbreaking personal statement, world-renowned author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie has detailed the tragic passing of her 21-month-old son, Nkanu, alleging fatal medical negligence at a prominent Lagos hospital.
According to the author, her family had travelled to Lagos for the Christmas holidays when Nkanu developed what initially appeared to be a mild cold, but later escalated into a severe infection. He was admitted to Atlantis Hospital for treatment.
Adichie alleges that her son, who was stable and preparing for a medical flight to Johns Hopkins in the United States, died following a series of "criminally negligent" errors during a procedure at Euracare Hospital in Lagos.
According to the statement, Nkanu had been admitted to Atlantis Hospital with an infection. To prepare him for his flight to Baltimore, doctors required an MRI and a "central line" procedure. Atlantis referred the family to Euracare Hospital for these specific tasks.
Adichie describes a harrowing scene where a routine sedation turned into a nightmare:
Overdose: The author states that an anesthesiologist administered an excessive amount of propofol to the child.
Lack of Monitoring: The statement alleges that Nkanu was never monitored after the sedation. Adichie claims the anesthesiologist "casually carried Nkanu on his shoulder" to the theater, during which time the child became unresponsive.
Respiratory Failure: Following the procedure, the author alleges the doctor switched off Nkanu’s oxygen and again carried him unmonitored to the ICU.
"We brought in a child who was unwell but stable and suddenly, our beautiful little boy was gone forever," Adichie wrote.
The author did not mince words in her assessment of the medical team involved, describing the anesthesiologist as "fatally casual" and claiming no proper protocols were followed.
Most disturbingly, Adichie noted that she has since heard of previous cases where the same doctor reportedly overdosed children.
"The anesthesiologist was CRIMINALLY negligent," she stated. "Why did Euracare allow him to keep working? This must never happen to another child."
Nkanu was scheduled to travel to the United States on January 7, accompanied by traveling doctors. Instead, the family is now grappling with an unimaginable loss.
Chimamanda described the experience as living her "worst nightmare," stating, "I will never survive the loss of my child."
As of Sunday, January 11, 2026, Euracare Hospital has not issued a formal public response to the specific allegations of negligence.
The incident has already sparked a massive conversation online regarding medical standards and accountability within the Nigerian private healthcare sector.
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