A 21-year-old student of Gombe State University has continued to survive entirely on liquid meals since birth, in what medical experts describe as a rare and puzzling feeding condition.
Sammy Samaila, a 400-level Sociology student of the institution, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that he has never eaten solid food in his life, relying instead on pap, tom brown made from millet, groundnuts and soya beans, juices and other drinks.
Born in Yamaltu-Deba Local Government Area of Gombe State, Samaila recalled that attempts to chew solid food from the age of four triggered immediate nausea and vomiting.
“I remember that my father often tried to force me to eat, but I would vomit immediately. After several medical tests, doctors said there was nothing physically wrong with me.
“Even now, if I attempt to eat solid food, I feel the urge to vomit. Although I do not take solid food, my bowel movements are usually normal, but sometimes hard,” he said.
Despite his condition, Samaila attends lectures regularly, sometimes carrying a flask of pap to class, and manages his health with supplements including folic acid, vitamin B complex and yeast.
“I do feel weak sometimes. If I walk a long distance, I get tired easily. There are mornings when I wake up feeling very weak.
“I avoid carrying heavy objects because I become tired quickly. Before taking my medication, I make sure I drink my pap,” he added.
Samaila, who lost his twin sister at five months old, said the tragedy left an emotional scar on the family and fuelled cultural interpretations of his condition in some quarters.
However, his father, Mr. Samaila Yaro, said medical examinations, including endoscopy, revealed no structural abnormality.
“From infancy, he refused anything placed in his mouth, even medicine. Whenever we tried to give him drugs or food, he would vomit.
“One weekend, I tried to feed him three grains of rice. He vomited and became ill, and we rushed him to hospital. Doctors later advised us not to force him to eat but to give him what he could tolerate,” Yaro said.
According to a gastroenterologist who reviewed the case, when tests show no structural blockage, attention turns to functional or psychological feeding disorders affecting how the brain and digestive system interact.
“One possibility is Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID), driven not by body image concerns but by fear, discomfort or sensory sensitivity to textures.
“Another possibility is functional dysphagia, a swallowing difficulty without detectable structural cause,” the specialist said.
Despite the mystery surrounding his condition, Samaila excelled academically, passing WAEC, NECO and JAMB in one sitting and preparing for the National Youth Service Corps.
As graduation approaches at Gombe State University, he remains hopeful.
“I hope to meet others with similar experiences to know I am not alone. I pray that one day I will be able to eat solid food as I continue to try my best,” he said. (NAN)
