The Kano State Hospitals Management Board has taken disciplinary action against three healthcare workers following the death of Aishatu Umar, a patient who died during surgery to remove a pair of scissors that had earlier been left inside her body.
The Board confirmed that the tragic incident, which occurred on Sunday, was the result of medical negligence at the Abubakar Imam Urology Centre in Kano. This was disclosed in an official statement issued by the Board’s Public Relations Officer, Samira Suleiman.
According to the statement, an initial investigation ordered by the Executive Secretary of the Board, Dr. Mansur Mudi Nagoda, revealed that surgical scissors were mistakenly left in the patient’s body after a previous medical procedure. The error reportedly went unnoticed for months.
In response to the findings, the Board announced the immediate suspension of three medical personnel directly linked to the case. It also confirmed that the matter has been forwarded to the Kano State Medical Ethics Committee for a comprehensive review and possible sanctions in line with professional and legal guidelines.
Expressing sympathy to the bereaved family, the Board described the incident as deeply regrettable and assured the public that accountability would be enforced. It emphasized that acts of negligence within the healthcare system would not be tolerated.
Earlier reports revealed that Aishatu Umar had endured persistent and intense abdominal pain for several months after undergoing surgery at the same hospital in September 2025.
A family member, Abubakar Mohammed, said she repeatedly returned to the hospital seeking help as her condition deteriorated.
According to him, medical staff reportedly dismissed her complaints and prescribed painkillers without conducting thorough examinations. It was only days before her death that medical scans were finally carried out, leading to the shocking discovery of the forgotten surgical instrument.
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Mohammed said the scissors were identified during the scan, prompting doctors to schedule a corrective surgery. Tragically, Umar did not survive the procedure.
The incident has sparked renewed concern over patient safety and medical accountability within public health facilities in the state.
