Angela Onwuzoo
Tragedy has struck Kano State with the death of a mother of five, Aishatu Umar, after a pair of scissors was allegedly left inside her abdomen during a surgical procedure at the Abubakar Imam Urology Centre, a government-owned health facility in the state.
Umar reportedly died on Sunday at the hospital while undergoing a corrective procedure to remove the scissors, which were said to have been forgotten in her body during an earlier surgery at the same facility.
What should have been a routine medical intervention instead turned into a prolonged and painful ordeal that ultimately claimed her life, leaving her children without a mother and her family devastated.
The incident has sparked outrage over rising cases of medical negligence and renewed calls for an urgent overhaul of Nigeria’s healthcare system to prevent further needless deaths.
PUNCH Healthwise had earlier reported that one of the twin sons of renowned author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Nnamdi Nkanu, died in a Lagos hospital after a brief illness linked to alleged medical negligence.
Adichie had accused medical personnel of negligence in the circumstances surrounding the death of her 21-month-old son, who died on Wednesday, January 7, 2026.
Abubakar Mohammed, a relative of the late Umar, told TheCable that the deceased had endured months of severe abdominal pain following surgery carried out at the government hospital in September 2025.
He alleged that despite repeatedly returning to the hospital to complain of worsening pain, she was only given pain-relief medication without further investigation.
“She underwent surgery at the Abubakar Imam Urology Centre in September. After that, she complained of severe abdominal pain for months,” Mohammed said.
“Each time she returned to the hospital, she was given painkillers. It was only two days ago that scans were carried out, and that was when doctors discovered that scissors had been forgotten inside her body.
“Plans were made for another surgery, but she passed away before it could be done.”
Reacting to the incident, the Kano State Hospitals Management Board said it had ordered an immediate and thorough investigation into the alleged negligence that led to Umar’s death.
The Executive Secretary of the board, Dr Mansur Mudi Nagoda, gave the directive on Tuesday, saying the probe would ascertain the facts and circumstances surrounding the incident.
“We extend our deepest condolences to her family and loved ones. The investigation will be transparent, impartial, and professional, and appropriate actions will be taken in line with established regulations should any negligence be established,” the statement said.
The board assured the public that patient safety remains its utmost priority and pledged its commitment to upholding the highest standards of healthcare delivery in Kano State..
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