A grieving Nigerian lady has shared a painful account of how her family lost a loved one, blaming a failing healthcare system and nationwide industrial action for his death.
In an emotional post on X, formerly Twitter, she described how her uncle died after being unable to access urgent dialysis treatment in Makurdi, Benue State.
Sudden Illness and a Rushed Journey
The tragedy began on Friday, 23 January 2026, when the woman received a disturbing call from her mother.
She was told her uncle, who had only been ill for two days, was not improving despite medical attention.
Uneasy and afraid, she immediately booked the earliest available vehicle and travelled to Makurdi, departing at 1pm.
She arrived around 6pm and went straight to the hospital, where several family members were already waiting anxiously.
A Hospital Struggle That Felt Hopeless
According to her account, something felt wrong the moment she entered the hospital ward.
She quickly joined doctors and nurses in trying to help her uncle, removing her veil and assisting where possible.
Three cannulas were inserted and several drips administered, but his condition did not improve.
She later learned he had stopped passing urine, leading doctors to insert a catheter.
Instead of urine, blood came out, leaving the family terrified and confused.
A Strong Man Reduced to Silence
The woman described her uncle as a gallant officer of the law, now lying helpless and unable to move.
She held his hand and spoke to him softly, calling him by her childhood name, “baby G”.
He barely responded, but managed to tighten his grip around her fingers, a moment she will never forget.
Doctors later said he had developed an acute kidney infection requiring urgent dialysis.
No Dialysis, No Ambulance, No Help
The family immediately began calling dialysis centres across Makurdi, but none were operating.
They were told all centres were shut due to an ongoing strike.
As his condition worsened, the family contacted the road safety office, seeking an ambulance to move him to Jos or Abuja.
No ambulance arrived, and no alternative help came.
At exactly 10:10pm, her uncle took his final breath in front of his family.
A Family Left in Shock and Anger
The woman wrote that her family remains deeply traumatised by the sudden loss.
No one knows how to comfort the other, as everyone is still trying to process what happened.
She said one of her cousins has not cried and refuses to accept the reality, despite witnessing his death.
Her uncle, she added, never seemed like someone who would die suddenly.
A Life of Service, an Ending Without Dignity
The deceased had served Nigeria for more than 20 years, according to the post.
The woman expressed deep anger that someone who gave his life to public service died without basic medical care.
She described him as gentle, kind, and unproblematic, recalling how he often teased her about boyfriends.
Those small jokes, she said, now feel painfully precious.
“This Is Life as a Nigerian”
The post ends with a raw expression of grief and frustration.
She blamed the country’s broken systems for her uncle’s death and questioned whether her family would ever recover.
“This is the end?” she asked. “This is it. This is your life as a Nigerian.”
