A tragic turn of events unfolded in Kano on Thursday as a woman, Hafsat Yusuf, died just hours after giving birth to quintuplets at the Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital.
Hafsat had successfully delivered three boys and two girls through a Caesarean section at about 2 p.m. on Wednesday. However, her husband, Salisu Nafiu, confirmed that she passed away in the early hours of Thursday, around 1 a.m.
“She delivered the babies safely in the afternoon, but we lost her in the early hours of today,” Nafiu said, describing the loss as devastating for the family.
Despite the tragedy, all five newborns are alive and currently receiving intensive medical care at the hospital. According to Nafiu, the babies are stable and under close supervision by health professionals.
Medical personnel at the facility also confirmed that the quintuplets are being given specialised attention to support their survival and healthy development.
The birth, which marked Hafsat’s ninth delivery, had initially been a moment of joy for the family before it turned into grief.
In response, the Kano State Government has pledged to take full responsibility for the medical care of the infants. The State Ministry of Health said the intervention reflects its commitment to strengthening maternal and child healthcare and reducing mortality rates.
“The government is committed to supporting the children and ensuring they receive the best possible healthcare services,” the ministry said in a statement.
The incident has sparked an outpouring of sympathy from residents, many of whom described the development as both heartbreaking and bittersweet for the bereaved family.
