A Kano-based man, Abubakar Muhammad, has accused the Abubakar Imam Urology Centre of gross medical negligence, alleging that the hospital’s actions led to the tragic death of his wife, Aishatu Umar, a mother of five.
Muhammad said his wife died in the early hours of Monday, about four months after undergoing a surgical procedure at the state-owned health facility located in Fagge Local Government Area of Kano State.
Speaking with Daily Trust, the grieving husband alleged that doctors at the hospital forgot a pair of surgical scissors inside his wife’s stomach during an operation carried out in September.
According to him, shortly after the surgery, Aishatu began to suffer persistent and severe abdominal pain, which never subsided.
“She kept complaining of unbearable pain,” Muhammad said. “Each time she went back to the hospital, they only gave her painkillers. They kept telling her the pain was normal for someone who had surgery. No X-ray, no scan, nothing.”
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He explained that despite repeated visits and worsening symptoms, hospital staff allegedly failed to carry out proper medical investigations, dismissing her condition as post-surgical discomfort.
Muhammad said his wife’s health continued to deteriorate for months until she was eventually taken to Muhammad Abdullahi Wase Specialist Hospital and later Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, just days before her death.
Medical tests and scans conducted at the two hospitals reportedly revealed a horrifying discovery — a pair of surgical scissors lodged inside her body, allegedly left behind during the September operation.
Efforts were said to be underway to perform corrective surgery to remove the object, but tragedy struck before the procedure could be carried out, as Aishatu Umar passed away.
Describing the incident as “unacceptable and devastating”, Muhammad said the loss has plunged his family into deep grief and raised serious questions about professionalism in the healthcare system.
“While we know that death is inevitable, we cannot understand how such a mistake could happen in a hospital,” he said. “This kind of negligence destroys public confidence in medical professionals and health institutions.”
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He called on the Kano State Government and relevant health regulatory bodies to thoroughly investigate the matter and ensure justice, insisting that those responsible must be held accountable.
Meanwhile, the Kano State Hospitals Management Board has ordered an immediate and comprehensive investigation into the allegations.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Executive Secretary of the Board, Dr Mansur Mudi Nagoda, said the probe would determine the facts and circumstances surrounding the incident.
“We extend our deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of the deceased,” the statement read. “The investigation will be transparent, impartial, and professional. Appropriate actions will be taken in line with established regulations if any negligence is established.”
The Board also assured members of the public that patient safety remains its top priority, pledging to uphold the highest standards of healthcare delivery across Kano State.