The Kano State Hospitals Management Board has confirmed that medical negligence led to the death of Aishatu Umar after surgical scissors were mistakenly left inside her abdomen during a surgical procedure at the Abubakar Imam Urology Centre, Kano.
A preliminary investigation by the Board revealed that the mother of five died as a direct consequence of the error committed by surgeons during the operation. The Board’s Public Relations Officer, Samira Suleiman, disclosed that the investigation, ordered by the Executive Secretary, Dr Mansur Mudi Nagoda, established clear evidence of negligence, with surgical scissors left inside the patient’s body after surgery.
According to Suleiman, “The preliminary findings of the investigation ordered by the Executive Secretary, Dr Mansur Mudi Nagoda, revealed clear medical negligence, as surgical scissors were left inside the patient after the procedure.”
Sequel to the revelation, the Board has ordered the immediate suspension of three officers directly involved in the surgery, pending the outcome of further investigations.
Pharmanewsonline had earlier reported that the death of one of the twin sons of the Nigerian literary icon Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, has sparked renewed debates within Nigeria’s health sector over patient safety, paediatric sedation practices, and accountability in private hospitals.
Adichie, along with her husband, Dr Ivara Esege, have levelled an accusation of negligence on Euracare Multi-Specialist Hospital in Lagos over the death of one of their twin son that resulted from several diagnostic tests. However, the Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has asked for an investigation into the matter.
It was alleged that the 21-month-old Nkanu Nnamdi died of overdose of a sedative drug, propofol, as investigations are ongoing on the case.
In the Kano incident, the mother of five reportedly died on Sunday while undergoing a corrective surgery to remove the scissors, which were said to have been forgotten in her body during an earlier operation at the facility.
According to a relative of the deceased, Abubakar Mohammed, who spoke with The Cable, Umar had endured months of severe abdominal pains following a 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.”
