A quiet town in Kebbi State has been shaken by a heartbreaking tragedy after two young sisters, aged six and three, died under suspicious circumstances at the General Hospital in Zuru. Authorities say the deaths, which occurred on March 18, may have resulted from a wrongful injection allegedly administered by hospital staff.
Following the incident, two nurses were immediately taken into custody by police in Birnin Kebbi, and investigations are ongoing to determine the exact sequence of events that led to the girls’ untimely deaths.
In a swift response, the Kebbi State Government constituted a nine-member investigative panel to probe the incident. Led by the Commissioner for Information and Culture, Alhaji Yakubu Ahmed, the panel has already begun interviewing hospital personnel, witnesses, and the victims’ family members in Zuru.
At the Emir’s Palace in Zuru, the state government presented the bereaved family with a ₦10 million support package. Ahmed explained that the donation, while unable to replace the lives lost, is intended to help the family cope with the profound trauma.
“No amount of money can bring back these innocent lives,” Ahmed said. “But we hope this gesture shows the family that they are not alone in their grief, and that justice will be pursued.”
The Emir of Zuru, Alhaji Mohammed Sanusi Mikailu Sami, urged the family to remain steadfast in faith and described the tragedy as an act of God. He commended Governor Nasir Idris for his rapid intervention, which he said reflected both compassion and a commitment to justice. The monarch also reminded healthcare workers that professionalism and vigilance are non-negotiable, emphasizing that negligence leading to the loss of life is utterly unacceptable.
Representing the family, Barrister Garba Shehu expressed gratitude for the government’s prompt response and the ongoing thorough investigation. “This tragedy has left a void that cannot be filled, but we take comfort in knowing that the authorities are taking this matter seriously and that measures are being put in place to prevent a recurrence,” he said.
During the ongoing panel hearings, medical staff including the Principal Medical Officer, Dr. Thomas Gode, Medical Officer Dr. Mohammed Fakai, and the nurses on duty when the incident occurred have testified under cross-examination. The panel is also reviewing hospital procedures and communication protocols, with early findings suggesting gaps that may have contributed to the fatal errors.
The girls’ father, Ibrahim Abdullahi Shuni, along with other family members, recounted the horrifying events leading to their daughters’ deaths, adding a deeply personal dimension to the investigation.
The Kebbi State Government has vowed to ensure that justice is served and that such a preventable tragedy never happens again.
