The Kano State Hospitals Management Board has suspended three medical staff at the Abubakar Imam Urology Centre following the death of Aishatu Umar, a mother of five, on January 11, 2026, after surgical scissors were mistakenly left inside her stomach.
Umar underwent a medical procedure at the hospital in September 2025. After the operation, she experienced discomfort, and subsequent tests and scans revealed the presence of the forgotten scissors. The incident gained public attention after her family shared the story online, prompting widespread calls for the responsible doctor to face government sanctions.
In response, the state Hospital Management Board, through its Public Relations Officer Samira Suleiman, stated that a preliminary investigation ordered by Executive Secretary Dr. Mansur Mudi Nagoda confirmed that the surgical scissors had indeed been left inside the patient following the procedure.
The Board announced the immediate suspension of the three personnel directly involved from all clinical duties. It also referred the matter to the Kano State Medical Ethics Committee for further investigation and disciplinary action in accordance with professional standards and the law.
“The Board extends its deepest condolences to the family of the late Aishatu Umar and sympathizes with them over this painful loss. We reassure the public that negligence will not be tolerated in any form,” the statement read.
