How Yobe twins died 48 hours apart

T****win sisters died forty eight hours apart in Yobe State, Daily Trust gathered. The deceased sisters—Dr. Hadiyah Usman and Dr. Aidah Usman (PharmD), who were 28-years-old, were children of Dr. Hadiza Usman and Dr. Usman Abdullahi.

The mother of the deceased, Professor Hadiza Abdullahi Usman, is the Medical Director of the Federal Medical Centre, Nguru, Yobe State, while their father, Professor Usman Abdullahi, is a senior consultant.

According to family sources, one of them, Hadiyah, fell ill due to a sickle cell crisis which she has battled for years, and was admitted to FMC Nguru. She later succumbed to the crisis and passed away on Friday. Funeral prayers were held on the same say at the emir’s palace in Nguru.

Our correspondent gathered that within the same period, her twin sister, Aidah, had a crisis and was receiving treatment at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital.

One of the family members, who spoke to our correspondent, said it was not unusual as it was a long-standing pattern where the twins took ill simultaneously even when apart at different locations.

“In fact the family was used to it. Anytime one of the twins took ill, the parents knew that the other will fall ill as well,” he said.

He said after Aidah recovered and was discharged from the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, she travelled to Nguru, to join her grieving parents and mourn her sister’s death.

“On arrival, Aidah insisted that she would visit her sister’s grave to pay her respects. Her mother, a medical doctor, was not comfortable with it, but had to give in when she saw that the girl was determined to go to the site”, he said.

Also speaking to our correspondent, was an uncle to the twins, Ibrahim Hasbunallah, who served as their guardian in Maiduguri.

The twin sisters

He said he was fortunate to hold the twins on the day they were born as they were handed to him by their parents shortly after their birth.

“They were handed over to me at birth, and I used the same hands to put them in their graves—one on Friday and the other one on Sunday,” he recounted.

He said the sisters, both born with sickle cell anemia, shared a bond that defied ordinary sibling relationships.

According to him, they kept strictly to themselves, having no friends.

“They were always indoors; they read together, ate together, played together and slept together. That was their routine,” he said.

He said, despite their health condition, the sisters excelled academically, gaining admission to study Medicine and Pharmacy at the University of Maiduguri.

It was gathered that after graduation, they worked at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Nguru.

“Sadly, both sisters fell ill simultaneously, one receiving treatment at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) and the other at FMC Nguru, while their mother was away in Saudi Arabia,” he said.

Hasbunallah said the eldest twin passed away before the mother could return, while the surviving twin died shortly after their mother returned.

“When the younger twin came in from Maiduguri, she refused to sleep throughout the night, insisting that she wanted to visit her sister’s grave,” he said.

Accompanied by her mother, husband, younger sister (now the family’s sole surviving child), and Hasbunallah, she visited the graveside.

After we prayed, she refused to leave. Right from home, she told me that she must follow her sister. She said her sister cannot die and leave her. ‘What am I going to do here?’ she said,” Hasbunallah recalled.

“She later appeared weak and started shaking, so her husband and younger sister rushed to support her, but she fainted before they could steady her. She was rushed to the hospital at around 3:30 p.m, where she passed away in the Intensive Care Unit. She died shortly after the Asr prayer around 4:10 p.m”, the uncle narrated.

When Daily Trust reached out to their father, he only managed to confirm the incident as he could barely speak.

Speaking in a calm tone, he asked for understanding and time, saying he would speak to our correspondent at a later date.

In an appreciation message issued after the burial, the mother, Professor Hadiza Usman, thanked relatives, friends, colleagues, professional associations, religious leaders, traditional rulers, government officials, staff of FMC Nguru and other well-wishers who have stood by the family.

“I am deeply touched by the overwhelming show of love, solidarity, prayers and support we have received”, she said.