A Kano-based family has alleged medical negligence following the death of a woman, Aishatu Umar, who reportedly died after enduring months of severe pain caused by a pair of scissors allegedly left in her body during a surgical operation at the Abubakar Imam Urology Centre in Kano State.
A family member, Abubakar Mohammed, who disclosed the incident in a social media post, said Umar died at about 1 a.m. on Monday after suffering persistent abdominal pain since undergoing surgery at the facility in September 2025.
Mohammed, who said the deceased was his sister-in-law, explained that Umar fell ill while living in Kano and was taken to the urology centre for surgery.
According to him, shortly after the operation, Umar began to complain of severe abdominal pain, which persisted for several months.
He alleged that despite repeated visits to the hospital, medical personnel only administered pain relief drugs and discharged her without conducting comprehensive investigations.
“She suffered this pain for four months,” Mohammed said.
He said it was only two days before her death that detailed medical tests and scans were carried out, which allegedly revealed that a pair of scissors had been left inside her body during the September surgery.
Mohammed added that arrangements were being made for a corrective surgery to remove the foreign object, but Umar died before the procedure could be performed.
“Efforts were being made to perform a corrective surgery, but her time had run out,” he said.
The family described the incident as a case of gross professional negligence, questioning how a surgical instrument could allegedly be left inside a patient’s body.
“Is this not pure negligence? How can trained doctors forget scissors inside a patient?” Mohammed asked.
He said Umar was survived by her husband and five children, adding that the incident had not only claimed a life but also raised serious concerns about healthcare standards in the state.
The family called on the Kano State Government and relevant health regulatory bodies to investigate the matter and ensure accountability.
“We demand justice for Aishatu Umar,” the family said.
As at the time of filing this report, the management of the Abubakar Imam Urology Centre and Kano State health authorities had not issued an official response to the allegation.
