Deborah Akinyosoye
A Nigerian nurse based in Leeds, United Kingdom, Nnena Miriam, has been found dead in her apartment, sparking grief and shock within the nursing community both in the UK and Nigeria.
According to Fellow Nurses Africa, an organization dedicated to advancing the nursing profession in Africa, Miriam’s body was discovered by the police after a missing person report was filed.
Concerned about her sudden absence from work and repeated unanswered calls, one of her close friends eventually filed a missing person report.
The police were said to have later found her lifeless body in her home.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the organisation stated, “It is with heavy hearts and deep sorrow that we report the sudden passing of one of our own, Nnena Miriam, a dedicated and professional nurse based in Leeds, United Kingdom.
“Nurse Miriam was found dead in her room earlier this week under heartbreaking circumstances. According to reports, her last shift was on Sunday of last week.
“Alarm bells were raised when her close friend tried reaching out to her repeatedly from that Sunday without success. Growing increasingly worried, the friend filed a missing person report, only for the police to later discover her lifeless body in her apartment.”
It was further stated that Miriam had just returned to the UK after having her introduction ceremony in Nigeria, ahead of her traditional marriage.
The statement further read, “Tuesday, April 29, was meant to be her special day, a day of joy, celebration, and new beginnings.
“Instead, her sudden death has left colleagues and loved ones overwhelmed with unspeakable grief and unanswered questions.”
Colleagues described Miriam as one who practiced her profession with a beacon of kindness, dedication, and resilience.
“Her untimely passing is a profound loss to the healthcare family she served with pride and to the many patients whose lives she touched with care and compassion.
“As the investigation continues, we join the family, friends, and the global African nursing community in mourning this tragic loss,” the statement further disclosed. A similar tragic incident occurred in March 2024, involving another Nigerian woman, Chidimma Ezenyili, who was working in the United Kingdom.