The 28-year-old sisters, both medical professionals, had reportedly battled sickle cell anaemia for years before dying in separate hospitals in Yobe and Borno states.
Two 28-year-old twin sisters, Dr. Hadiyah Usman and Dr. Aidah Usman (PharmD), have died in Yobe State, 48 hours apart, following separate sickle cell crises, according to a report by Daily Trust.
Hadiyah reportedly died on Friday at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Nguru, Yobe State, where she was receiving treatment. Funeral prayers were held the same day at the Emir’s Palace in Nguru.
Her twin sister, Aidah, was receiving treatment at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) in Borno State at the time. She reportedly recovered and was discharged before travelling to Nguru to join her parents in mourning her sister.
According to a family member who spoke to Daily Trust, the twins had a long history of falling ill at about the same time, even when they were in different locations.
The family member said Aidah insisted on visiting her sister’s grave after arriving in Nguru, despite concerns from their mother, Professor Hadiza Abdullahi Usman, who is the Medical Director of FMC Nguru.
An uncle to the twins, Ibrahim Hasbunallah, who served as their guardian in Maiduguri, said he was present when the sisters were born and later helped bury both of them.
Hasbunallah described the twins as exceptionally close, saying they spent most of their time together and shared daily activities including studying, eating, playing and sleeping.
Despite living with sickle cell anaemia, the sisters reportedly excelled academically and gained admission to study Medicine and Pharmacy respectively at the University of Maiduguri. After completing their studies, they worked at FMC Nguru.
According to Hasbunallah, both sisters developed health complications around the same period, with one receiving treatment at FMC Nguru and the other at UMTH, while their mother was away in Saudi Arabia.
He said Hadiyah died before their mother could return, while Aidah died shortly after the mother came back to Nigeria.
Hasbunallah further recounted that Aidah became weak and collapsed while visiting her sister’s grave. She was rushed to hospital and died in the Intensive Care Unit at about 4:10 p.m., shortly after the Asr prayer, he said.
Their father, Professor Usman Abdullahi, reportedly confirmed the deaths when contacted but said he was unable to speak extensively because of the family’s grief.
In a message of appreciation following the burials, their mother thanked relatives, friends, colleagues, professional associations, religious leaders, traditional rulers, government officials and staff of FMC Nguru for their support and prayers.
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