A Nigerian woman residing abroad has sparked a major online conversation after posting an emotional video directed at acclaimed author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. The video, which went viral on TikTok, contained a stern warning for Adichie to leave Nigeria with her family in the wake of her son's tragic passing.
A Viral Plea and a Broader Critique
The woman, who identified as being of Nigerian descent, used the platform to directly address the bereaved author. Her message was urgent and impassioned: she advised Chimamanda Adichie to leave Nigeria before circumstances worsen for her household. This plea was framed within a scathing critique of the country's healthcare infrastructure, which she described as being plagued by a pervasive culture of negligence.
Her intervention comes after Chimamanda Adichie and her husband, Dr. Ivara Esege, lost their 21-month-old twin son, Nkanu Nnamdi, on January 6, 2026. The family has pointed to alleged medical negligence at Euracare Hospital in Lagos State as a contributing factor. According to details shared by Adichie in a WhatsApp chat, a doctor indicated that an anaesthesiologist administered an excessive quantity of the sedative propofol. Despite resuscitation efforts and the use of a ventilator, the child suffered a cardiac arrest.
Personal Hospital Horror Stories Shared
To underscore her warning, the woman shared harrowing personal experiences with Nigerian hospitals. She recounted an incident during her own childbirth where she had to threaten negligent nurses to ensure proper care. In another deeply distressing account, she claimed she had to "smuggle" her husband out of a medical facility to save his life, believing the care he was receiving was dangerously inadequate.
"This is Nigeria. You don't trust anybody there. You don't lose guard in Nigeria," she stated emphatically in the video. Building to a climax, her message turned into a direct, emotional appeal: "Chimamanda, look after yourself. Carry that husband of yours and run for your... dear life." The video has ignited a heated debate on TikTok and other social media platforms, with many Nigerians sharing similar stories of medical mishaps.
National Condolences and Official Reactions
The tragedy has drawn responses from the highest levels of the nation. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu offered his condolences to Chimamanda Adichie and her family. In a statement released on Thursday, January 8, 2026, by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President described the loss of a child as the most devastating grief for a parent.
He acknowledged Adichie as a literary icon who has brought joy to many globally and offered prayers for strength for the family. Similarly, prominent cleric Pastor Paul Adefarasin expressed sympathy, with fans and well-wishers joining in to offer prayers for the grieving family.
The incident has also prompted official scrutiny. The Lagos State government has intervened in the matter, seeking to investigate the circumstances surrounding the child's death amid counter-accusations from the hospital involved. This case has once again thrust the state of Nigeria's healthcare system into the national spotlight, raising urgent questions about patient safety, accountability, and systemic reform.
