Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Lagos, Nigeria — The Lagos State Government has ordered a formal postmortem examination into the deaths of nine-month-old identical twin boys, Testimony and Timothy Alozie, who reportedly died within about 24 hours of receiving routine immunisation at a state-run primary health care centre, prompting public concern and demands for accountability.
The tragic incident first came to light when the twins’ father, Samuel Alozie, widely known on social media as Promise Samuel, shared disturbing videos on TikTok showing the bodies of his sons in separate body bags and recounting how they became unwell shortly after vaccination and later died. He alleged that their condition rapidly deteriorated following the immunisation administered on the morning of December 24, 2025, at the Ajangbadi Primary Health Centre in the Ojo Local Government Area of Lagos State.
According to Alozie’s account, the children, who had been healthy and active prior to the visit, became extremely weak after the injections. Their behaviour reportedly changed dramatically as they lost appetite, stopped playing, and developed high temperatures. The attending nurse advised the couple to administer paracetamol if the fever persisted — advice the parents followed — and to bathe the infants to help reduce the rising temperature. Despite these efforts, both boys died in the early hours of Christmas Day, December 25, 2025.
In his viral social media videos, the grieving father expressed deep anguish and demanded justice, accusing the health centre of medical negligence. He suggested that the twins might have been given expired, fake, or excessive vaccines, and raised concerns over what transpired during the immunisation session. Alozie also alleged that the nurse who attended to his sons on December 24 was not the usual healthcare worker who typically administered their vaccines, and claimed that deworming medication was given without his explicit consent.
The father has disputed explanations reportedly offered by the health centre, which he said attributed the deaths to “food bacteria”, questioning how the food his children had consumed for months could suddenly cause such a fatal outcome. He also voiced fear that any investigation by government agencies might be manipulated to protect state-run facilities, citing concerns about the impartiality of official processes.
In response to the public outcry and the emotional appeal by the twins’ father, the Lagos State Government has directed that a postmortem examination be carried out to determine the cause of death and to establish whether medical negligence or other factors contributed to the tragedy. The move reflects heightened official attention amid growing scrutiny of public healthcare practices, especially in primary health care settings where routine immunisations are administered.
The postmortem is expected to include a thorough medical examination and any necessary laboratory tests that could shed light on the circumstances surrounding the twins’ deaths. Government officials have so far not publicly released detailed statements about the findings of the autopsy or the precise steps being taken beyond ordering the examination, though heightened public interest suggests that authorities may face pressure to be transparent in communicating results once available.
The case has ignited broader debate across Nigeria about vaccine safety, healthcare delivery in public facilities, and accountability mechanisms when adverse events occur after medical procedures. Immunisation programmes are a cornerstone of child health policy, and while mild reactions such as fever are common and expected after vaccinations, sudden deaths in close temporal association with immunisation — even if coincidental — raise significant public anxiety and demand rigorous investigation.
Health experts emphasize that most routine childhood vaccines are safe and critical for preventing debilitating and life-threatening infectious diseases. However, they acknowledge that serious adverse events, although rare, can occur and require careful surveillance, transparent inquiry, and independent verification to maintain public confidence in immunisation programmes. They also highlight the importance of cold-chain management, proper storage, correct dosage, and informed consent in administering vaccines to infants.
The twins’ deaths come amid a backdrop of heightened public awareness of healthcare quality issues in Nigeria. Recent incidents alleging medical negligence or lapses in care, including other high-profile cases that have gained national media attention, have intensified calls for improved standards, stronger regulation, and accountability across both public and private healthcare institutions.
For the Alozie family, the loss of Testimony and Timothy has been devastating. In addition to seeking justice through the postmortem and broader legal avenues, Samuel Alozie has appealed to lawyers, human rights advocates, and the public for support, citing his limited financial capacity to pursue the matter independently. He has repeatedly stressed that his children were healthy before the immunisation and expressed deep mistrust in the outcome if the process is not independently overseen.
As Lagos State awaits the outcome of the official inquiry, the case continues to resonate with many Nigerians concerned about child safety, medical ethics, and the integrity of public health services. The government’s decision to order a postmortem marks a critical step toward clarifying what led to the twins’ deaths and addressing public demand for accountability in a situation that has touched hearts across communities.
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