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 strongly denied.
The hospital maintains that available medical findings indicate Barira may have been born with only one kidney, dismissing claims that the organ was removed during surgery.
The allegation has generated concern among residents of Gombe State, while Barira’s family is demanding an independent and comprehensive investigation to determine what transpired.
According to Barira, she was admitted to the Gombe State Specialist Hospital on April 8, 2026, after developing complications during labour. She said doctors advised her family that she could not deliver naturally and recommended an emergency Caesarean section, which was successfully carried out.
However, she claimed that shortly after being discharged, she began experiencing persistent vomiting, severe abdominal pain, body swelling and painful urination.
“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 said.
Barira explained that she initially believed the symptoms were part of the normal recovery process following a Caesarean section but became concerned when her condition failed to improve.
She said subsequent medical examinations revealed 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 alleged.
The mother of 10 insisted that she had never undergone any surgical procedure before the Caesarean section and was never informed that she had been born with a single kidney. She called for a transparent investigation to establish the truth.
“I only want justice and for the truth to come out. I want a proper investigation to establish how I allegedly lost my kidney,” she said.
Barira’s elder brother, Zakariyya Alhassan, said the family became suspicious after comparing previous and recent medical records.
According to him, medical investigations conducted in 2015 reportedly showed that Barira had two healthy kidneys, while examinations carried out after the Caesarean section indicated she now has only one.
He said the family sought explanations from the hospital’s management but was dissatisfied with the response.
“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,” he said.
Zakariyya also alleged that the family was informed that Barira’s medical file could not immediately be located despite her history of receiving treatment at the hospital.
He disclosed that the family had petitioned the Gombe State Ministry of Health, requesting a full investigation into the matter.
According to him, the ministry invited both the family and hospital officials for discussions and advised all parties to refrain from making public comments until investigations are concluded.
“We are not interested in accusing anyone unfairly. We only want the truth to be established,” he added.
The Gombe State Specialist Hospital has denied the allegation, maintaining that available medical evidence suggests Barira may have been born with only one kidney. Authorities are expected to conclude investigations into the matter.
