A woman in Gombe State, Barira Alhassan, has accused doctors at the Gombe State Specialist Hospital of removing one of her kidneys during a Caesarean section, an allegation the hospital has denied.
Barira said she was admitted to the hospital for an emergency C-section on April 8, 2026, while pregnant and in good health. She claimed that shortly after the surgery, she developed severe health complications, including persistent vomiting, intense abdominal pain, body swelling and painful urination.
According to her, the symptoms prompted her to seek further medical attention, where she was allegedly informed by a doctor that she had only one kidney.
“I was shocked when the doctor told me I had only one kidney. He even asked if I had sold it. I told him no, and he tried to reassure me that people can live normal lives with one kidney,” she said.
Barira explained that the operation was her first Caesarean delivery despite having previously given birth to 10 children.
Her relatives alleged that medical scans conducted before the surgery confirmed she had two healthy kidneys, while follow-up examinations after the procedure reportedly showed that one kidney was missing.
The family also claimed the hospital failed to release Barira’s medical records when requested, a development they said deepened their suspicions.
Her brother, Zakariyya Alhassan, said a scan carried out in 2015 showed Barira had two functioning kidneys before the operation.
“Our father went to the hospital seeking an explanation, but he was not given a satisfactory answer. All he wanted to know was what happened to his daughter’s missing kidney,” he said.
According to the family, after repeated attempts to obtain answers proved unsuccessful, they petitioned the Gombe State Ministry of Health, calling for a thorough investigation into the incident.
The Gombe State Specialist Hospital has, however, denied the allegation, insisting that no kidney was removed during the surgical procedure.
(BBC)
