By Lizzy Chirkpi
Tragedy has struck a family in Yobe State following the death of twin sisters, Dr Hadiya Usman Abdullahi, a medical doctor, and Aidah Usman Abdullahi, a Doctor of Pharmacy, 48 hours apart.
The sisters, both healthcare professionals, reportedly died following complications associated with sickle cell disease, leaving their family, friends and colleagues devastated.
Hadiya, a Medical Officer in the Haematology Department of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Nguru, died on Friday, October 2, after spending about a week in the hospital following a sickle cell crisis.
She was buried the same day after funeral prayers at the Emir’s Palace.
Her twin sister, Aidah, who had also been hospitalised at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH), was reportedly discharged after initially recovering.
However, tragedy struck again on Sunday, October 4, when Aidah reportedly visited her twin sister’s grave. She was said to have fainted shortly after the visit and was rushed to a hospital, where she later died.
A family member, Ibrahim Auwal, confirmed the deaths on Monday, describing the development as a devastating loss.
“It is a very painful development. Hadiya passed away on Friday, and Aidah followed on Sunday. Both sisters had been battling sickle cell disease, and their deaths are a great loss, particularly to their family, friends and colleagues,” he said.
The deaths first became public on Sunday following a condolence message by microbiologist Fatima Kagu and gained wider attention on Monday after the family confirmed the tragedy.
The twins were daughters of Prof. Hadiza Abdullahi Usman, the Medical Director of FMC Nguru.
Their deaths have sparked an outpouring of grief within the medical and pharmaceutical communities, with colleagues mourning the loss of two young healthcare professionals whose careers were still unfolding.
The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) also mourned Hadiya, describing her death as a profound loss to FMC Nguru, her colleagues, family and the wider medical community.
FMC Nguru, in a separate condolence message, mourned Aidah, describing her as the “second twin.”
The sisters were subsequently buried according to Islamic rites.
The double tragedy has left the family, particularly their mother, grappling with the loss of both daughters within 48 hours.