A tragic incident has occurred in Yobe State, Nigeria, where twin sisters, Dr. Hadiyah Usman and Dr. Aidah Usman, died 48 hours apart. The deceased sisters, aged 28, were children of Dr. Hadiza Usman and Dr. Usman Abdullahi. Their mother, Professor Hadiza Abdullahi Usman, is the Medical Director of the Federal Medical Centre, Nguru, Yobe State, while their father, Professor Usman Abdullahi, is a senior consultant.
According to family sources, one of the twins, Hadiyah, fell ill due to a sickle cell crisis, which she had battled for years, and was admitted to FMC Nguru. She later succumbed to the crisis and passed away on Friday. Funeral prayers were held on the same day at the emir's palace in Nguru. Meanwhile, her twin sister, Aidah, had a crisis and was receiving treatment at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital.
Family members revealed that it was not unusual for the twins to fall ill simultaneously, even when apart at different locations. The family was accustomed to this pattern, and whenever one twin took ill, they knew the other would follow suit. After Aidah recovered and was discharged from the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, she traveled to Nguru to join her grieving parents and mourn her sister's death.
Aidah insisted on visiting her sister's grave to pay her respects, despite her mother's reservations. Accompanied by her mother, husband, younger sister, and uncle, Ibrahim Hasbunallah, she visited the graveside. However, after praying, Aidah refused to leave and later appeared weak, shaking, and eventually fainted. She was rushed to the hospital, where she passed away in the Intensive Care Unit on Sunday.
The twins were born with sickle cell anemia and shared a bond that defied ordinary sibling relationships. They kept strictly to themselves, having no friends, and their routine consisted of reading, eating, playing, and sleeping together. Despite their health condition, the sisters excelled academically, gaining admission to study Medicine and Pharmacy at the University of Maiduguri.
The family, particularly their uncle, Ibrahim Hasbunallah, who served as their guardian in Maiduguri, expressed their grief and shock. Hasbunallah recounted how he held the twins on the day they were born and later put them in their graves. The family has received condolences from relatives, friends, colleagues, and well-wishers.
The mother, Professor Hadiza Usman, has thanked everyone for their show of love, solidarity, prayers, and support during this difficult time. The family is still grappling with the loss of their twin daughters.
Key points
- The twin sisters died due to complications from sickle cell crisis.
- The family was accustomed to the twins falling ill simultaneously.
- The sisters shared a unique bond despite being born with sickle cell anemia.
