AT an age when most university students rush between lectures with plates of rice, bread rolls or snacks in hand, 21-year-old Sammy Samaila walks quietly across campus carrying something different, a flask of pap.
For more than two decades, Sammy has never eaten solid food.
Yet he is now a 400-level Sociology student at Gombe State University, steadily approaching graduation with determination that belies the mystery surrounding his condition.
In an exclusive interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Sammy revealed that since childhood, his diet has consisted entirely of liquids, pap, “tom brown” made from millet, groundnuts and soya beans, juices and other drinks.
Born in Yamaltu-Deba Local Government Area of Gombe State, he recalled that at just four years old, attempts to chew solid food triggered immediate nausea.
“I remember that my father often tried to force me to eat, but I would immediately vomit,” he said.
Concerned, his parents sought medical help. Several examinations were conducted.
“After several medical tests, the doctors said there was nothing physically wrong with me. Even now, if I attempt to eat solid food, I feel the urge to vomit,” he explained.
Despite his unusual diet, Sammy says his bowel movements are generally normal, though occasionally hard.
Sammy’s life has required careful monitoring and routine supplementation to maintain strength. He takes folic acid, vitamin B complex and yeast supplements daily.
“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,” he admitted.
He avoids lifting heavy objects and ensures he drinks pap before taking his medication.
Through it all, his younger brother, David, has remained a constant pillar of support.
“When we walk together, people think he is older because he looks stronger. When I tell them I’m the eldest, they are surprised,” Sammy said with a smile.
Sammy was born a twin. His sister, Susan, died at five months old, a loss that deeply affected the family.
Over the years, some outsiders attempted to attach cultural or spiritual explanations to his feeding condition.
His father, Samaila Yaro, a former bank worker, remembers one such encounter vividly.
“A woman claimed his problem was caused by his late twin sister and asked us to make him wear red cloth. We tried it, but nothing changed,” Yaro said.
Rejecting superstition, the family focused on medical care.
“I do not believe in superstition. I believe God creates each person uniquely,” he added.
Yaro recalled countless hospital visits, including endoscopic examinations.
“One weekend remains vivid in my mind. I tried to feed him three grains of rice. He vomited and became ill, and we rushed him to the hospital,” he said.
Doctors found no structural abnormalities and advised the family not to force him to eat solids.
A gastroenterologist who later reviewed Sammy’s case suggested that when no structural blockage is detected, attention turns to functional or psychological feeding disorders.
One possibility, according to medical experts, is Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID), an eating disorder not driven by body image concerns but by intense sensory sensitivity, discomfort, or fear associated with certain food textures.
Another possible explanation is functional dysphagia difficulty swallowing despite normal test results, often linked to coordination issues between the brain and swallowing muscles.
His genotype, AS, like his father’s, while his mother’s is AA does not suggest sickle cell disease as a cause.
Prof. Hauwa Ibrahim, a visiting Harvard academic and relative, described his case as both puzzling and inspiring.
“How can someone survive and reach adulthood without ever eating solid food? His life raises significant questions for health professionals,” she said.
Perhaps the most surprising aspect of Sammy’s story is that although he has never eaten solid food, he knows how to cook.
“My mother taught me by watching her. I can prepare different kinds of meals. I even make my own pap and take it to school,” he said.
Outside academics, he enjoys watching football and films. But more than hobbies, he longs for something simple.
“I hope to meet others with similar experiences, to understand that I am not alone,” he said.
“I also pray that one day I will be able to eat solid food as I continue to try my best.”
Any early fears about his intellectual development have long been dispelled.
“He passed WAEC, NECO and JAMB in one sitting,” his father proudly noted. “Today, he is in his final year without carry-overs and is willing to serve anywhere in Nigeria for his National Youth Service.”
For his family, his academic success is proof that physical limitations do not define destiny.
“Every parent dreams of seeing their child succeed and interact freely with others. I believe when he goes into the world, he will learn from others and others will learn from him,” Yaro said.
In a society where unusual conditions are sometimes quickly labeled as illness or myth, Sammy’s story resists simple explanation.
It is the story of a father who refused to give up, and a young man who continues to show up to lectures, to life, and to hope flask in hand.
As graduation approaches at Gombe State University, Sammy Samaila continues his quiet journey, nourished not by solid food, but by determination, family support and an unshaken belief that tomorrow may bring answers.