Concerns mount over increasing sudden deaths

August 2, 2026 12:00 am

Within the past six months, there has been a growing trend of Nigerians who showed no outward signs of distress or illness but suddenly slumped and died.

While some of these incidents have happened in private, others have occurred publicly, causing panic and speculation among eyewitnesses.

For centuries, many of these occurrences have been attributed to supernatural powers, with the victims assumed to have committed grievous sins or angered deities who struck them down as punishment.

However, with modern scientific understanding and advances in healthcare, medical experts have gained significant insights into the causes of this phenomenon known as Sudden Adult Death Syndrome.

Disturbing cases

On June 21, a video that went viral on social media showed the lifeless body of an unidentified woman who reportedly slumped and died near the Ajah Bridge in Lagos.

Eyewitnesses who spoke in the video said she suddenly collapsed near the market area while carrying bags, but no immediate means of identification was found on her at the scene.

That same month, in Alikazaure community of Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State, a young man identified as Salisu Muhammed died after collapsing during a morning football training session at the Massalacin Edi football field.

According to a report by Daily Trust, the incident occurred in the early hours of June 8, throwing players and residents at the field into mourning and bringing the training session to an abrupt end.

On April 6, a 500-level Building Technology student at Covenant University in Ogun State, Toluwase Emmanuel, slumped and died during a campus football training session.

Also in April, the management of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, announced the sudden death of Oreoluwa Adewole, a Part Four student in the College of Health Sciences.

The university said the student had reportedly complained of chest pain during a clinical oral examination before the incident.

Later that month, on April 21, a staff member of the Nigeria Union of Teachers in the FCT, Jessey Audu, was said to have suddenly slumped and fallen into a drainage near an army checkpoint in Gwagwalada Area Council.

Similarly, on March 27, a lecturer at Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja, Anslem Ojodomo, collapsed in class while teaching.

Students who witnessed the incident said Ojodomo suddenly slumped while addressing them, and despite efforts to save him, he was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital.

In another disturbing case, an Assistant Commissioner of Police, Ogbon-Inu Taiwo Popoola, died in December 2025 after slumping during a management meeting at the police command headquarters in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State.

Statistics by country

Although medical experts note that there is no single set of criteria for defining sudden death, the World Health Organisation’s definition is the most widely cited.

The WHO describes sudden death as an unexpected natural death that occurs within one hour of symptom onset if witnessed, or within 24 hours of the individual having last been seen alive and symptom-free if unwitnessed.

Other definitions require that the individual was seen alive less than one hour before death, with evidence of coronary artery disease, while some also require that resuscitation was attempted.

A study published last year by Chinese researchers in the Medical Military Research journal indicated that in China, crude mortality for sudden cardiac arrest rose from 8.36 to 18.59 per 100,000 population between 2013 and 2021.

The researchers noted that the increase was driven largely by lower utilisation of primary prevention and emergency response services compared to developed Western countries.

A study published in The Lancet Regional Health – Europe also suggested that from 2010 to 2020, there were more than 2.5 million sudden deaths; natural, unexpected deaths occurring within one hour of symptom onset, in 26 European countries.

The study further indicated that while Western Europe recorded declining rates, sudden deaths increased significantly in countries such as Spain (3.3 per cent average annual rise), Germany, Poland and Romania.

According to the SADS Foundation, sudden death, which is frequently tracked through broader sudden cardiac arrest and sudden unexplained death statistics, claims approximately 210,000 to 356,000 lives in the United States each year.

Although precise national statistics specifically tracking Sudden Arrhythmic Death Syndrome are unavailable in Nigeria, broader research on Sudden Cardiac Death and Sudden Unexpected Natural Deaths indicates that cardiovascular complications remain a major public health concern.

Risk factors and prevention

A recent study published in the Journal of Advances in Medicine and Medical Research identified hypertensive heart disease as the leading structural and clinical trigger, accounting for about 83.5 per cent of sudden cardiac deaths reviewed in autopsies.

The study also found that up to 70 per cent of individuals who suffered sudden cardiac arrest related to hypertension had previously been undiagnosed or were unaware of their condition before the fatal event.

The data further showed that sudden unexpected adult deaths typically peak between the ages of 36–40 and 61–65 years, with a significantly higher prevalence among males, accounting for between 70 per cent and 74.7 per cent of recorded cases.

Speaking with Sunday PUNCH, a physician, Dr Samuel Ajayi, explained that undiagnosed heart conditions can cause sudden death in teenagers and young adults.

“When such conditions are present, an individual can die suddenly during strenuous physical activity such as exercise or sporting activities. Generally, clinical risk factors for sudden death include coronary artery disease, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, smoking, mental illness, and alcohol and substance misuse.

“Other specific causes include arrhythmias, myocardial infarction and cardiomyopathies, which involve inherited or acquired thickening or weakening of the heart muscle. Sudden death may also result from respiratory causes, blood clots blocking major lung arteries (pulmonary embolism), and life-threatening tears in the body’s main artery.

“Other neurological causes include brain haemorrhage resulting from massive strokes, ruptured aneurysms and epileptic seizures,” he said.

Also speaking with Sunday PUNCH, a physician, Dr Zakariya Aminu, explained that while sudden death in adults is often unexpected, it is rarely without an underlying cause.

“Cardiovascular diseases remain the leading culprit worldwide. Conditions such as heart attacks, fatal heart rhythm abnormalities (arrhythmias), cardiomyopathies and undiagnosed congenital heart diseases can all result in sudden collapse and death.

“Other important causes include stroke, pulmonary embolism (blood clots in the lungs), ruptured brain aneurysms, severe infections such as sepsis, uncontrolled epilepsy (sudden unexpected death in epilepsy), and complications of chronic illnesses like diabetes. In some cases, poisoning, drug overdose or severe allergic reactions may also be responsible.

“Certain risk factors significantly increase the likelihood of sudden death. These include uncontrolled hypertension, diabetes mellitus, high cholesterol, obesity, smoking, excessive alcohol intake, recreational drug use, physical inactivity, and a family history of premature cardiovascular disease or sudden cardiac death. Unfortunately, many individuals remain unaware of these risk factors because they do not undergo regular health screenings,” he said.

Aminu noted that reducing the burden of sudden adult deaths requires a combination of individual and public health measures.

“Adults should have routine medical check-ups, especially blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol checks, and seek prompt evaluation for warning symptoms such as persistent chest pain, unexplained fainting, severe breathlessness or palpitations.

“Maintaining a healthy lifestyle through regular exercise, a balanced diet, avoiding tobacco and harmful alcohol use, and adhering to prescribed medications for chronic illnesses are equally important.

“At the health system level, improving access to preventive healthcare, strengthening emergency medical services, promoting public awareness of cardiovascular risk factors, and increasing the availability of life-saving interventions such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation training and automated external defibrillators in public places can significantly reduce preventable deaths,” he said.

The physician further stated that while not every sudden death can be prevented, early detection of underlying diseases, effective control of risk factors and timely access to emergency care can substantially reduce the incidence of such tragic events.

Highlighting ways to reduce the incidence of sudden death, a physician, Dr Paul Anejodo, advised Nigerians to check their blood pressure regularly and monitor their cholesterol and blood sugar levels.

“It is also important to maintain a healthy weight and exercise for at least 150 minutes each week. Eating a diet rich in vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes and lean protein while limiting salt, saturated fats and added sugars is equally crucial.

“Nigerians should also properly manage existing medical conditions, especially high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease and high cholesterol, and recognise warning signs such as chest pain or pressure, sudden shortness of breath, a racing or irregular heartbeat that does not subside, sudden weakness or numbness on one side of the body, and persistent confusion or loss of consciousness,” he said.

Anejodo also advised individuals to aim for seven to nine hours of quality sleep each night and adopt effective ways to manage stress.

Victor Ayeni

Victor is a Senior Correspondent at Punch Newspapers’ Features Desk with over ten years of experience as a writer and blogger. He has reported on a wide range of topics, including Lagos State Government affairs and Lagos politics, blending in-depth research with engaging storytelling. Victor’s work demonstrates hands-on newsroom experience, editorial insight, and a dedication to clear, accurate, and compelling journalism.

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