Thursday, July 2, 2026 - A Nigerian doctor, Dr Ibrahim, tragically lost his life last weekend, 15 minutes after he arrived at his hospital to attend to elderly patients.
In a tribute posted on social media, an aide to the Jigawa
state governor, Suleiman Harbo, said he had taken his mother to the Arewa
Surgery Hospital in Hotoro, Kano state, to see a Consultant Physician, but upon
their arrival, they were told the Consultant wasn't in his seat, but that in
his place, they would have to see Dr Ibrahim.
He said his mum and other elderly patients, all above 80,
waited for him to arrive. Sadly, upon his arrival, as he stepped out of his
car, he became dizzy, and within fifteen minutes of his arrival, he was
pronounced de@d by the other doctors in the hospital who had tried to
resuscitate him.
‘’Innalillahi
wa inna ilaihir raji'un
Indeed, to
Allah we belong and to Him we shall return.
It is not in
my habit to write tributes, even after witnessing several sudden and painful
deaths. But the loss I witnessed yesterday, Saturday, was both shocking and
deeply humbling.
I had taken
my mother to Arewa Surgery Hospital, Hotoro Bypass, for a scheduled appointment
at about 5:00 p.m. We came to see the Consultant Physician. We were initially
scheduled to see Dr. Mijinyawa, but we were informed he would not be available.
The staff recommended Dr. Ibrahim, a Senior Consultant Gastroenterology, whom
Dr. Mijinyawa often refers his patients to in his absence.
Over time, I
had grown comfortable seeing Dr. Ibrahim. We were close in age, and attended
university at the same time he was a year ahead of me and we shared several
mutual friends as most of my university roommates were medical students, and
many of them are consultants today. So seeing Dr. Ibrahim was never a concern.
Yesterday,
however, took a turn none of us expected. About six patients, including my
mother and I, were waiting, We were the first to arrive. At about 6:30 p.m., my
mother, tired from waiting, I then went to the reception to inquire. The
receptionist called Dr. Ibrahim and was told he was still at home. I asked that
he be informed my mother was among the patients waiting. He graciously agreed
to come immediately after observing Maghrib prayer.
I checked my
watch and stepped out to perform ablution, then went to the mosque. Immediately
after Maghrib, I returned to the waiting lobby. I did not know Dr. Ibrahim had
arrived.
Tragically,
shortly after stepping out of his car, he felt dizzy. Other doctors rushed to
his aid and moved him to the emergency unit. Within 15 minutes, he was
confirmed dead, Innalillahi Wa'inna'ilaihirra'jiun.
The painful irony was this: All the patients waiting to see
him are above 80 years of age, and about five Senior Consultant doctors fought
to save him, yet all of them broke down in tears.
My mother, unaware of what had happened, called me, “Tafida,
if the doctor is not coming, let’s go home. ( Banajin dadi tunda bansami damar
Sallar magrib ba) I am worried I didn't observe Maghrib. Before I could answer
her, another patient said, “Hajiya, the doctor we all are waiting for has just
arrived… and has passed away.”
My mother said, “Innalillahi wa'inna ilaihir raji'un ( Yanzu
dama likitan namune aka shigo dashi a guje) Tafida tashi mutafi gida kawai
Allah yajikansa, ni nawarke ma, let’s go home.” I had to summon courage to
drive us back home.
But in all of this, there is a profound comfort: his last
words were LA'ILAHA ILLALLAH which everyone present heard clearly.
Dr. Ibrahim, may Allah forgive your shortcomings, accept
your last testimony, grant you Al-Jannah Firdaus, and give your family the
fortitude to bear this loss. Amin.''
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