Gladness Gideon
A wave of sorrow has swept across nursing communities in the United Kingdom and Nigeria following the sudden death of a Nigerian-born nurse, Nnena Miriam, whose body was recently discovered in her Leeds apartment.
According to reports from Fellow Nurses Africa, a professional platform supporting African healthcare workers, Miriam was declared missing after failing to attend her scheduled shift and not responding to messages or calls from concerned friends. It was a close friend who, after multiple unsuccessful attempts to reach her, contacted local authorities. Police subsequently discovered Miriam’s lifeless body in her home earlier this week.
Miriam, a devoted healthcare professional known for her resilience and compassion, had only recently returned to the UK after a trip to Nigeria, where she had participated in her introduction ceremony—a traditional pre-wedding event. Tragically, the day that was meant to mark a new chapter in her life, Tuesday, April 29, instead became a day of mourning.
In a statement released on Wednesday, Fellow Nurses Africa described the loss as heartbreaking and deeply felt across the global African nursing community.
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“It is with heavy hearts and deep sorrow that we report the sudden passing of one of our own, Nnena Miriam,” the organisation said. “Her untimely death is a devastating blow to all who knew her, both personally and professionally.”
Miriam’s last known shift was on Sunday prior to her death, and her absence from work immediately raised alarms. Friends say her silence was uncharacteristic, and the subsequent confirmation of her death has left colleagues in shock.
Tributes have poured in from friends and healthcare workers who remember her as a dedicated nurse who brought warmth and professionalism to every patient interaction. “She served with pride and touched many lives with her kindness,” the statement read.
Authorities have not released the cause of death, and investigations are ongoing.
As the community continues to reel from the loss, tributes and condolences have been extended to her family both in the UK and Nigeria. The memory of Nurse Miriam, colleagues say, will live on in the lives she impacted through her selfless service.