Fresh details have emerged over the death of the 21-month-old son of celebrated Nigerian writer Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and her husband, Dr. Ivara Esege, with allegations of possible medical negligence now being raised by sources close to the family.
The child, identified as Nkanu Nnamdi, reportedly died after a brief illness while the family was in Lagos for the Christmas holidays. According to sources familiar with the situation, the toddler developed an infection, prompting his parents to immediately arrange for a full medical evacuation abroad.
It was gathered that a specialist medical team had already been scheduled to transfer the child to the United States for advanced treatment on January 7, 2026. As part of the preparations for the evacuation, the child was taken to a private medical facility in Victoria Island, Lagos, on January 6, to undergo medical tests requested by the overseas team.
Sources said the child arrived at the hospital in a stable condition. However, his health reportedly deteriorated before the planned evacuation could take place, and he later died.
Individuals close to the family have since raised concerns over the quality of medical care provided at the Lagos facility in the critical hours leading up to the child’s death. They questioned whether standard clinical procedures and emergency care protocols were adequately followed.
One source described the incident as avoidable, alleging that lapses in care may have contributed to the tragic outcome. “There are serious concerns about how the situation was handled medically. People believe that if proper care had been provided for those few hours, the child might still be alive,” the source said.
As of the time of filing this report, neither Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie nor her husband has issued an official public statement, aside from requesting privacy as they mourn their loss.
Efforts to obtain comments from the medical facility involved were ongoing, while calls have grown for clarity and accountability as more details surrounding the incident continue to emerge.
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