…Nnamdi Kanu outlines a harrowing list of ailments he is currently battling in detention in DSS custody.
ABUJA, NIGERIA – The iNews Times | Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has raised the alarm over what he describes as a life-threatening deterioration of his health while in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS), warning that his survival is now at serious risk.
In a detailed letter addressed to the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Kanu outlined a harrowing list of ailments he is currently battling in detention, including tinnitus, sleep apnea, liver and kidney complications, prostate disease, and white matter brain disease. But he described tinnitus – a persistent internal “chirping” sound in the ears and chronic sleep deprivation as the most dangerous threats to his life.
“Among the gravest threats to my survival today is tinnitus,” Kanu wrote. “It robs me of sleep, sometimes making rest completely impossible. It exacerbates my hypertension and magnifies chest pain, fainting risks, and psychological strain. It undermines my body’s natural capacity to heal.”
He revealed that although DSS doctors once considered draining fluid from his inner ear, the procedure was abandoned due to the risk of permanent hearing loss. Since then, he alleged, no meaningful effort has been made to treat the condition.
“Sleep deprivation, when combined with existing hypertension, organ strain, and potassium instability, places me in immediate danger of stroke, collapse, or sudden death,” Kanu warned, adding that the neglect of his condition “shows a reckless disregard for the life-threatening impact of untreated illness.”
Kanu also accused a DSS-appointed physician, Dr. Nasiru Mohammed, of falsifying his medical records to downplay his health status.
“From the moment he assumed control, Dr. Nasiru began falsifying my test results, recording normal potassium levels when in reality they were dangerously low,” he alleged. “When challenged as to why a potassium-sparing drug like Eplerenone was still prescribed if my potassium was supposedly normal, he had no medical justification.”
According to Kanu, under Dr. Nasiru’s supervision, his symptoms worsened, including frequent nosebleeds, fainting spells, chest pain, debilitating headaches, and swelling of the feet. Despite over 50 blood samples being taken while in DSS custody, he claimed there has been no improvement in his condition.
The IPOB leader further accused the DSS of barring his longtime personal physician, Dr. Cfine, and subjecting him to intimidation until an intervention by Emeritus Professor Martin Aghaji, a globally respected surgeon.
“It was his timely intervention that saved me from imminent collapse,” Kanu stated.
Under Dr. Cfine’s care, he said, there were modest signs of improvement – his potassium level rose from 2.1 to 2.9 mmol/L, and symptoms like nosebleeds, fainting, and headaches reduced. However, he stressed that the tinnitus and sleep deprivation remain unresolved, continuing to erode his health and mental stability.
Kanu also revealed that Professor Aghaji confirmed and documented a series of systemic health issues, including disorders of the liver, kidney, bladder, pancreas, prostate, and brain.
“Without Emeritus Professor Martin Aghaji’s intervention, my health would have deteriorated beyond recovery. Yet, instead of supporting him, the DSS has subjected him to the same pattern of intimidation used against Dr. Cfine,” he concluded.
The letter, titled ‘The Danger of Tinnitus and Sleep Deprivation’, now places the spotlight on the Nigerian government’s handling of Kanu’s detention and the broader implications for the rights of detainees in high-profile political cases.
The DSS has not yet responded to the latest allegations.
