Details emerge on how twin sisters died 48 hours apart

Details have emerged on how twin sisters, Dr Hadiyah Usman and Dr Aidah Usman, died 48 hours apart in Yobe State after suffering sickle cell crises.

The sisters, both 28, were daughters of Professor Hadiza Abdullahi Usman, Medical Director of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Nguru, and Professor Usman Abdullahi, a senior consultant.

Hadiyah, a medical doctor, was admitted to FMC Nguru after suffering a sickle cell crisis. She died on Friday, with funeral prayers held the same day at the Emir’s Palace in Nguru.

Her twin sister, Aidah, a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD), was receiving treatment for a similar crisis at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) at the time.

A family source said it was not unusual for the twins to fall ill at about the same time, even when they were in different locations.

“In fact, the family was used to it. Anytime one of the twins took ill, the parents knew that the other would fall ill as well,” the source said.

Aidah later recovered and was discharged from UMTH. She travelled to Nguru to join her parents and other family members in mourning Hadiyah.

However, upon her arrival, she insisted on visiting her sister’s grave.

The family source said their mother, a medical doctor, was initially uncomfortable with the idea because Aidah had only recently recovered from her own health crisis.

“She was not comfortable with it, but had to give in when she saw that the girl was determined to go to the site,” the source said.

Ibrahim Hasbunallah, the twins’ uncle and former guardian in Maiduguri, said he had a particularly close relationship with the sisters from the day they were born.

“They were handed over to me at birth, and I used the same hands to put them in their graves—one on Friday and the other one on Sunday,” he said.

Hasbunallah said the twins, who were both born with sickle cell anaemia, shared an unusually close bond.

“They were always indoors; they read together, ate together, played together and slept together. That was their routine,” he said.

According to him, the sisters had few friends and largely kept to themselves.

Despite living with sickle cell anaemia, the twins excelled academically and gained admission to study Medicine and Pharmacy at the University of Maiduguri.

After graduation, both worked at FMC Nguru.

Hasbunallah said the sisters experienced their final health crises around the same period, with one receiving treatment at UMTH and the other at FMC Nguru.

He said their mother was in Saudi Arabia at the time and could not return before Hadiyah died.

“The eldest twin passed away before the mother could return, while the surviving twin died shortly after their mother returned,” he said.

After arriving in Nguru, Aidah reportedly remained determined to visit Hadiyah’s grave.

Hasbunallah said she refused to sleep that night and repeatedly insisted that she wanted to see her sister’s final resting place.

“When the younger twin came in from Maiduguri, she refused to sleep throughout the night, insisting that she wanted to visit her sister’s grave,” he said.

Aidah eventually went to the graveside accompanied by her mother, husband, younger sister and Hasbunallah.

According to her uncle, she became emotional after prayers and refused to leave the grave.

“Right from home, she told me that she must follow her sister. She said her sister cannot die and leave her. ‘What am I going to do here?’ she said,” he recalled.

Hasbunallah said Aidah later became weak and started shaking.

Her husband and younger sister tried to support her, but she reportedly fainted before they could steady her.

“She was rushed to the hospital at around 3:30 p.m., where she passed away in the Intensive Care Unit. She died shortly after the Asr prayer, around 4:10 p.m.,” he said.

The deaths left the family mourning the loss of both sisters within two days.

When contacted, their father confirmed the incident but was unable to speak at length because of his emotional state.

He appealed for understanding and said he would speak to the correspondent at a later date.

Following the burials, Professor Hadiza Usman expressed appreciation to relatives, friends, colleagues, professional associations, religious leaders, traditional rulers, government officials, staff of FMC Nguru and other well-wishers who supported the family.

“I am deeply touched by the overwhelming show of love, solidarity, prayers and support we have received,” she said.