What began as a routine hospital visit for a pregnant mother in Kano ended in unimaginable tragedy—leaving behind five newborns, nine other children, and a grieving husband now facing the burden of raising a family of 14 alone.
For Salisu Nufi’u, a tricycle rider from Nasarawa Local Government Area, the events of that week remain a blur of shock, hope, and devastating loss.
His wife, Hafsatu Yusuf, had been weeks away from her expected delivery date when she complained of discomfort. What seemed like a minor concern quickly escalated into premature labour—triggering a chain of events neither of them could have anticipated.
From Expecting Triplets to Delivering Five Babies
At the hospital, Nufi’u said he was still operating on the assumption that his wife was expecting triplets—the number previously indicated by medical scans. On his way, he had even purchased baby supplies for three children.
But reality unfolded differently.
While he stepped out to procure medications and blood as requested by doctors, a call came in: his wife had delivered three babies—and two more were on the way.
“I thought there was a mistake,” he recalled. “The scan showed three. I couldn’t believe it.”
It was only upon returning to the ward that the truth became undeniable. Hafsatu had given birth to quintuplets—three boys and two girls—an extraordinarily rare occurrence.
For a brief moment, relief replaced fear. Both mother and babies were alive.
A Warning That Would Become Final Words
Shortly after the delivery, Nufi’u said he spoke with his wife. She was conscious, calm—even relieved.
But then, her tone shifted.
“She told me, ‘I may not survive this. Please take care of our children. Make sure they go to school,’” he recounted.
He dismissed her fears, urging her to stay hopeful. But she repeated the words—quietly, insistently—as if she already knew what was coming.
A Battle Against Time—and Blood Loss
Soon after, complications set in.
Hafsatu began to bleed heavily. What initially seemed routine quickly became life-threatening. Doctors and nurses worked frantically, administering blood transfusions and emergency care.
“They tried their best,” Nufi’u said. “I saw how hard they were working. But the bleeding did not stop.”
For hours, hope and fear collided. He prayed, clinging to the belief that she would survive.
By early Thursday morning, that hope was shattered.
“That Moment Destroyed Me”
At about 1 a.m., Nufi’u received an urgent call from the hospital. He rushed there with relatives, already sensing the worst.
“They told me she had passed away,” he said. “That moment destroyed me completely. It felt like the world had stopped.”
Seeing her lifeless body was unbearable. Her final words echoed in his mind.
A Father of 14—And an Uncertain Future
Before the pregnancy, the couple already had 10 children, though one had died in the past. With the arrival of the quintuplets, Nufi’u is now responsible for 14 children—many of them newborns requiring intensive care.
The scale of the responsibility is overwhelming.
“I am just a tricycle rider,” he said. “I work day and night to feed my family. Now I have 14 children to take care of.”
His greatest concern is not just survival—but the future.
“Feeding them, taking care of their health, and especially their education—that is what worries me the most.”
A Plea for Help—and a Promise to Keep
Haunted by his wife’s final request, Nufi’u says he is determined to honour her wish: to raise their children and ensure they receive an education.
But he admits he cannot do it alone.
“I am begging for help,” he said. “I am not asking for luxury. I am asking for survival for these children.”
His appeal is directed at government authorities, organisations, and compassionate individuals—anyone who can help him shoulder a burden that now feels impossibly heavy.
As he grieves, he says one thing remains constant.
“Every time I close my eyes, I hear her voice,” he said. “I just pray God gives me the strength to fulfil her wish.”
