Family demands probe into alleged missing kidney

A 38-year-old mother of 10, Barira Alhassan, has accused the Gombe State Specialist Hospital of removing one of her kidneys during a Caesarean section (CS), an allegation the hospital has denied, insisting that available medical findings indicate that she may have been born with only one kidney.

The allegation has sparked concern among residents, with the woman’s family calling for an independent and comprehensive investigation to establish what transpired.

Barira said she was admitted at the Gombe State Specialist Hospital on April 8, 2026 after experiencing complications during labour.

According to her, doctors informed her family that she could not deliver naturally and advised that she undergo an emergency Caesarean section.

She said the operation was successfully carried out and she delivered her baby, but her health condition deteriorated shortly after she was discharged.

The mother of 10 said she began experiencing persistent vomiting, abdominal pain, body swelling and pain during urination, symptoms she described as unusual because she had previously delivered all her children without surgery.

“After the operation, I became seriously ill. I was vomiting, my stomach was hurting, my body became swollen and I felt severe pain whenever I wanted to urinate,” she told Weekend Trust.

Barira said she initially believed the symptoms were part of the recovery process associated with Caesarean delivery but became worried when her condition failed to improve.

She said she consulted other women who had undergone similar procedures, but many told her they had not experienced the same complications.

“I started asking women who had undergone Caesarean sections whether they experienced what I was going through, but most of them said they did not,” she said.

According to her, she later underwent further medical evaluation and was informed by a doctor that she had only one kidney.

“I was shocked when the doctor told me that I had only one kidney. He even asked whether I had sold it,” she said.

Barira maintained that she had never undergone any surgery in her life apart from the Caesarean section and insisted that she had never been informed that she was born with only one kidney.

She appealed for a thorough investigation to determine what actually happened.

“All I want is justice and for the truth to come out. I want a proper investigation to establish how I allegedly lost my kidney,” she said.

Family raises concern

Barira’s elder brother, Zakariyya Alhassan, said the family became alarmed after comparing previous medical records with recent findings.

He claimed that investigations conducted in 2015 showed that Barira had two healthy kidneys, while recent examinations conducted after the surgery indicated that she now has only one.

He said the family approached the management of the hospital seeking clarification but was not satisfied with the explanations given.

“Our father personally went to the hospital to ask questions about what happened, but he was not given a satisfactory explanation. What he wants to know is how his daughter allegedly lost her kidney,” Zakariyya said.

He also alleged that the family was informed that Barira’s medical file could not immediately be traced despite the fact that she had received medical attention at the hospital on several occasions.

According to him, the family subsequently petitioned the Gombe State Ministry of Health requesting a thorough investigation into the matter.

He said the ministry invited members of the family and officials of the hospital for discussions and advised them not to make public comments until investigations are concluded.

“We are not interested in accusing anyone unfairly. We only want the truth to be established,” he said.

Husband recounts ordeal

Barira’s husband, Malam Babayo Muhammad, popularly known as Auwalu Mai Lemo Pantami, said his wife had previously delivered all her children naturally and had never undergone surgery before the operation in April.

According to him, Barira’s latest pregnancy was her tenth.

He said doctors informed them that complications had arisen during labour and advised that she undergo a Caesarean section.

Babayo said doctors also recommended that her womb be tied during the operation to prevent future pregnancies due to concerns associated with the delivery.

He said the family consented to the procedure and signed the necessary documents authorising the surgery.

According to him, Barira was taken into the operating theatre at 10 pm but remained there for nearly two and a half hours, a development he said raised concerns among family members.

“She was taken into the theatre around 10pm and was brought out around 12:30 am. We were worried because the operation appeared to take longer than what we had heard from other women who underwent similar procedures,” he said.

Babayo said his wife appeared weak and unresponsive immediately after the operation.

“At a point, we became frightened because she was not responding. A doctor later attended to her and she regained consciousness,” he said.

He added that after returning home, Barira continued to experience swelling, weakness, frequent urination and difficulty walking.

According to him, they returned to the hospital where she was referred for further investigations, including an abdominal scan.

Babayo claimed that the radiologist who conducted the scan observed that only one kidney was visible despite previous scans allegedly showing two kidneys.

He further alleged that another doctor later asked Barira whether she had ever sold one of her kidneys after test results indicated she had only one kidney.

“My wife has never sold a kidney and she has never undergone any operation apart from the Caesarean section,” he said.

Babayo said medications prescribed for her condition did not improve her health, prompting another visit to the hospital.

According to him, they were asked to bring her medical file but discovered that it contained no documents.

He said the family became more concerned after they were informed that her records could not be located.

Babayo said the family later escalated the matter to the Ministry of Health, which facilitated meetings between them and the management of the specialist hospital.

According to him, the hospital’s medical director explained that the area where Caesarean sections are performed is anatomically different from where the kidneys are located, making it unlikely for a kidney to be removed during such a procedure.

However, he said the family remained concerned because earlier medical examinations reportedly showed that Barira had two kidneys.

Babayo disclosed that the medical director recommended a CT scan to determine the actual condition of her kidneys.

He said the hospital management paid for the procedure, which cost about N60,000.

“The result of the CT scan still showed that she has only one kidney,” he said.

Babayo further said his wife’s condition worsened after the examination, leading to her admission at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Gombe.

“She started vomiting again, experienced body tremors and became very weak. She was later admitted at the Federal Teaching Hospital where she is still receiving treatment,” he said.

He appealed to relevant authorities to intervene and ensure a transparent investigation.

“We are ordinary people with limited means. We are appealing to the government and relevant agencies to help establish the truth and ensure justice for my wife because she is passing through a difficult period,” he said.

Hospital denies allegation

However, the Gombe State Specialist Hospital has dismissed the allegation, describing it as unfounded and unsupported by available medical evidence.

A statement issued by the hospital management noted that records from the operating theatre indicate that Barira underwent only an emergency Caesarean section and no procedure involving her kidneys was carried out.

The hospital noted that Caesarean sections are performed in the lower abdominal region and do not involve the removal of kidneys.

It added that further investigations conducted at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Gombe, suggested that Barira may have been born with only one kidney, a congenital condition that may remain undetected for many years.

According to the hospital, some individuals live normal lives with a single kidney without knowing they have the condition until they undergo specialised medical examinations.

The hospital said it took the concerns raised by the family seriously and sponsored additional investigations aimed at determining the facts surrounding the case.

It added that another medical assessment requested by the family at a private health facility is still pending.

The management reiterated that no kidney was removed from Barira during the Caesarean section and urged members of the public to await the outcome of ongoing investigations.

As investigation continues, the family insists that only an independent inquiry and comprehensive review of previous medical records and recent diagnostic findings can conclusively establish whether Barira was born with one kidney or she lost it at some point in her life.