Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
A middle-aged woman from Gombe State, Barira Alhassan, has accused doctors at the State Specialist Hospital in Gombe of removing one of her kidneys during an emergency Caesarean section she underwent on April 8, 2026, an allegation the hospital has vehemently denied, describing the claim as false, malicious, and unsupported by medical evidence.
Barira, a mother of ten who was having her first surgical delivery, told BBC News Pidgin that she entered the hospital with both kidneys intact but began experiencing severe health complications just days after the operation. “A few days after the operation, I became very ill. I started vomiting, had severe stomach pain, my body began to swell, and I felt pain every time I urinated,” she said. Her condition prompted her to seek further medical attention, and a doctor who examined her delivered a shocking revelation: she had only one kidney. The news left her deeply distressed. “I became very anxious when the doctor told me I have only one kidney. He even asked me if I sold it. I told him no,” Barira recounted.
Her brother, Zakaria Alhassan, told the BBC that the family’s suspicion was fueled by a medical scan conducted in 2015, which showed Barira had two healthy kidneys. When they requested her medical records from the hospital to understand what had happened, they were allegedly told that no records could be found, a claim that deepened their mistrust. The family has since submitted several complaints to the hospital and later petitioned the Gombe State Ministry of Health, seeking justice and a full investigation. According to Zakaria, ministry officials invited the family and hospital staff to meetings but urged them not to make the matter public until the investigation was concluded. However, the family expressed dissatisfaction with how the case has been handled.
In a strong rebuttal issued on June 28, 2026, the management of the State Specialist Hospital dismissed the allegations as entirely false, misleading, and unsupported by clinical evidence. The hospital stated that theatre records confirm Barira underwent only an emergency Caesarean section and that “at no point was any procedure involving the kidneys undertaken by the surgical team”. The hospital also disclosed that it had sponsored a CT Intravenous Urogram (CT-IVU) at a Federal Teaching Hospital to clarify the situation. According to the hospital, the scan findings were “consistent with a likely congenital absence of one kidney,” suggesting the condition existed from birth rather than resulting from any surgical procedure.
The hospital further stated that it had met with the patient’s family on two occasions to explain the medical findings and review all records. It added that, at the family’s request, arrangements were made for a repeat investigation at another independent facility, and the hospital is awaiting the results. The hospital condemned the social media campaign surrounding the case, warning that it could undermine public confidence in healthcare professionals.
As of June 29, 2026, the Gombe State Ministry of Health is expected to conclude its investigation into the conflicting claims. For now, Barira and her family continue to demand answers. “What I want is for them to conduct a proper investigation to explain how I lost my kidney and to ensure I receive justice,” she said.
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