By Amah
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A Nigerian woman, Aishatu Umar, has died four months after a pair of scissors was allegedly left inside her abdomen during a surgical procedure at the Abubakar Imam Urology Centre in Kano State, raising serious concerns over medical negligence at the government-owned facility.
Umar, a mother of five, reportedly died on Sunday while preparing for a corrective operation to remove the foreign object, which was said to have been forgotten during an earlier surgery carried out at the hospital in September 2025.
A relative of the deceased, Abubakar Mohammed, said Umar endured months of excruciating abdominal pain, following the initial operation. He alleged that despite repeatedly returning to the hospital to complain of worsening symptoms, she was routinely given pain-relief medication without further medical investigation.
“She had surgery at the Abubakar Imam Urology Centre in September. From then on, she complained of severe abdominal pain,” Mohammed said.
“Each time she went back to the hospital, they only gave her painkillers. It was just two days ago that scans were finally done, and that was when doctors discovered that scissors had been left inside her body.”
According to him, plans were immediately made for another surgery to remove the object, but Umar died before the procedure could be carried out.
The incident has sparked public outrage and renewed scrutiny of patient safety standards in public hospitals across the state.
In response, the Kano State Hospitals Management Board announced that it has ordered an immediate investigation into the circumstances surrounding Umar’s death.
The board’s Executive Secretary, Mansur Nagoda, directed a thorough probe, following widespread public concern.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by the board’s spokesperson, Samira Suleiman, the management described the allegations as disturbing and confirmed that formal complaints had been received from the deceased’s family.
“The executive secretary has directed that an immediate and comprehensive investigation be conducted to establish the facts surrounding what transpired at the Abubakar Imam Urology Centre,” the statement said.
The board noted that the investigation would examine all medical and administrative procedures connected to the case and promised a transparent, impartial, and professional process.
“Appropriate actions will be taken in line with established regulations should any negligence be established,” Suleiman added.
Furthermore, the board expressed condolences to Umar’s family and assured the public that the matter would be treated with the seriousness it deserves, reiterating that patient safety remains a top priority.
