Kano: Woman dies four months after doctors allegedly left scissors inside her during surgery

Umar

Aishatu Umar, a Nigerian woman, has died after a pair of scissors was allegedly left inside her abdomen during a surgical procedure at the Abubakar Imam Urology Centre in Kano state.

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.

Abubakar Mohammed, a relative of the deceased, said 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.”

Reacting to the incident, the Kano state hospitals management board said it has ordered an investigation into the alleged negligence that led to Umar’s death.

NAN reports that Mansur Nagoda, executive secretary of the board, directed that an immediate probe be conducted into the circumstances surrounding the case following public outcry.

In a statement issued on Tuesday by Samira Suleiman, the board’s spokesperson, the management said it had taken note of reports describing the circumstances of Umar’s death as distressing.