A woman from Gombe State, Barira Alhassan, has alleged that she lost one of her kidneys following a Caesarean section (C-section) at the Gombe State Specialist Hospital, an accusation the hospital has strongly denied.
According to Barira, she underwent an emergency C-section on 8 April 2026 and began experiencing severe health complications just days after the procedure. She said she suffered persistent vomiting, intense abdominal pain, swelling and pain while urinating, prompting her to seek further medical attention.
Speaking about her ordeal, Barira said a doctor who later examined her informed her that she had only one kidney. The revelation, she said, left her shocked and distressed.
“I became very anxious when the doctor told me I had only one kidney. He even asked if I had sold it. I told him I had not, and he assured me that people can still live normal lives with one kidney,” she said.
Barira maintained that she entered the hospital with both kidneys intact and believes something happened during the surgery.
Her brother, Zakaria Alhassan, said medical scans conducted in 2015 confirmed that she had two healthy kidneys before the operation. He added that after the family raised concerns, they requested her medical records from the hospital but were allegedly informed that no records relating to her treatment could be found.
According to him, the family’s concerns deepened after repeated attempts to obtain explanations from the hospital yielded no satisfactory answers. He said they subsequently petitioned the Gombe State Ministry of Health, requesting a full investigation
into the matter.The family said ministry officials later invited them, alongside hospital representatives, to meetings where they were urged to allow the investigation to continue before taking the matter public.
Barira insisted that her only demand is for a transparent investigation to determine what happened and ensure justice is served.
However, the management of Gombe State Specialist Hospital has dismissed the allegation, describing it as false, misleading and unsupported by medical evidence.
In a statement, the hospital said its theatre records clearly show that Barira underwent only an emergency Caesarean section and that no surgical procedure involving her kidneys was performed.
The hospital further disclosed that, following the family’s complaint, it funded a CT Intravenous Urogram (CT-IVU) examination at a Federal Teaching Hospital.
According to the hospital, the scan indicated findings consistent with the likely congenital absence of one kidney, suggesting that the condition existed from birth rather than resulting from the surgery.
Management also stated that it held meetings with the patient and her relatives to explain the medical findings and review available records. It added that after the family requested another independent medical examination, the hospital agreed and is currently awaiting the outcome of those tests.
The hospital expressed concern that the allegations circulating on social media could undermine public confidence in healthcare professionals, reiterating that no kidney was removed during the Caesarean section.
Meanwhile, the Gombe State Ministry of Health is expected to conclude its investigation into the conflicting claims.
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