The Sad But Inspiring Story Of Kika Onyibe, A 19-Year-Old Nigerian Girl Who Died Following Complications During Surgery

“It’s not the years in your life that count, but the life in your years” – If the unending tributes by her friends and acquaintances are anything to go by, then Kikaose Onyibe had a lot of life in her short 19 years on earth.

The Law undergraduate of University of Birmingham had reportedly flown back to Nigeria to treat what she thought was an infection but was later diagnosed as a ruptured appendix. According to her parents, “Kikaose had been complaining of lower abdominal pain since October last year and had been visiting a GP in Birmingham, UK, where her school is located. The GP failed to diagnose the ailment correctly despite several visits in many months. Instead of conducting a scan to identify her ailment, they gave her minor pain killers whenever she visited the surgery.”

A surgery to remove the ruptured appendix was prescribed but unfortunately, Kika died following complications during the operation at Gold Cross Hospital, Bourdillon Road, Ikoyi on the 12th of April.

Before the surgery, Kika was said to have told her mum who had asked if she was scared that she had nothing to worry about. “No, I’m at peace. I know where I’m going if I don’t come out and I will be with Jesus,” she said.

This is a testament to the special relationship she had with her creator while she was alive.

Born to Magnus Onyibe, a former Commissioner of Information in Delta State, Kiks as she was fondly called by her friends, was the kind of girl who knew what she wanted out of life. She was a dreamer and a doer who undoubtedly touched many lives during her short stay on earth.

Kika has been described as multi-talented. She was a poet and a very good cook among many other things.

Tributes haven’t stopped pouring in on the various social media platforms in celebration of the life she lived and the friend she was.

See a few of what people are saying about her below.

Sleep well Nwannem #KikaOnyibe ❤️✝️
I hope I’ll be able to sleep well tonight x pic.twitter.com/8rGZ3s3HSi

— OozeChrist (@UgoTheGogo) April 14, 2017

I didn’t really know you Kika but Jesus Christ. Please Rest.. Rest if thats what we really do when we die. #Kikaonyibe. pic.twitter.com/EItHCaU1Iz

— white ferrari (@Mofins) April 14, 2017