Authorities have detained two nurses in connection with the death of two young sisters at the General Hospital in Zuru, Kebbi State, following allegations that the children were administered wrong injections during treatment.
The victims, aged six and three, were said to have died on March 18, a development that has raised concerns among residents.
The suspects are currently in police custody in Birnin Kebbi, while investigations are ongoing to determine the exact circumstances surrounding the deaths.
Amid public outcry, the Kebbi State Government set up a nine-member investigative panel to examine the incident. The committee, headed by the Commissioner for Information and Culture, Alhaji Yakubu Ahmed, has begun sittings in Zuru.
At the hearings, senior medical personnel, including the Principal Medical Officer, Dr Thomas Gode, and Medical Officer, Dr Mohammed Fakai, as well as nurses who were on duty, have appeared before the panel.
The children’s father, Ibrahim Abdullahi Shuni, and other relatives also presented their accounts.
Preliminary insights from the proceedings pointed to possible communication breakdown among hospital staff, a situation believed to have contributed to the tragedy and highlighting the need for stricter compliance with medical procedures.
In the meantime, the state government has approved a donation of N10 million to the bereaved family to help ease the burden of their loss.
Speaking during a visit to the Emir’s Palace in Zuru, Ahmed said the gesture was intended to provide some relief to the grieving family.
He said, “No amount can replace the lives lost, but this support is to show that the government shares in the family’s pain.”
The Emir of Zuru, Alhaji Mohammed Sanusi Mikailu Sami, urged the family to remain strong, noting that the incident should be seen in the context of fate.
He also admonished health workers to maintain high professional standards, stressing that negligence in the sector must not be tolerated.
Counsel to the family, Garba Shehu, expressed appreciation to the state government for its prompt response and efforts to ensure a thorough investigation into the matter.
