Grief, shock in Kano community as abortion claims teenager’s life

Two weeks after the demise of a teenager, Amina Balarabe of Kwanar Mahuwa in Tofa Local Government Area of Kano State, residents of the community are still grappling with the way and manner a girl mostly described as well behaved and obedient, lost her life trying to abort a pregnancy. The incident happened when one […]

Two weeks after the demise of a teenager, Amina Balarabe of Kwanar Mahuwa in Tofa Local Government Area of Kano State, residents of the community are still grappling with the way and manner a girl mostly described as well behaved and obedient, lost her life trying to abort a pregnancy.

The incident happened when one Ukasha Muhammed of the same address, who is also fiancé to the deceased, connived with a quack doctor – Chidera Ugwu, to abort Amina’s pregnancy. Ukasha Muhammad was said to be responsible for the pregnancy.

Daily Trust gathered that Ukasha had taken the decision to abort the pregnancy in order to cover up their indiscretion before marriage. An injection was said to have been administered on the late Amina alongside other drugs by Ugwu, who operates a patent medicine store in the area.

Speaking with our correspondent, Amina’s step father, Malam Muhammad Lawan, confirmed that the deceased was under his care as he married her mother 16 years ago and became a guardian to Amina.

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He confirmed that the deceased and Ukasha started dating about a year ago and their wedding date had been fixed. “Everybody in this community is aware of their love. He usually comes here to see her. So, I went to the boy’s parents in order to formalize the relationship. Some months later the wedding date was fixed.”

“Their wedding was billed for October last year. But it seemed his family was not well prepared for the wedding. We waited for their response throughout the period but they did not even inform us of the reason for their inability to come for the marriage discussions,” he said.

He said he was not aware of the deceased’s pregnancy until he was called and informed by a Hisbah personnel.

“As a man who doesn’t stay at home, I had no idea that the girl was pregnant. I only got to know when a Hisbah personnel told me that they arrested the girl and the boy while they were trying to abort a pregnancy. I told him that I know nothing about the pregnancy. But we promised to meet and discuss further,” he said.

He added that when he informed the boy’s parents, they denied that their son was responsible for the pregnancy. He added that, “When I heard this, I informed Amina’s biological father about the pregnancy and the stand of the boy’s family. Later, we met and resolved that we would put everything in writing and make the boy sign the papers so that he would not deny the pregnancy thereafter.”

Revealing how the girl died, Malam Lawal said the late Amina died at night after complaining of headache. He said she was given medication but around 11pm, she became critically ill. “l wanted to take her to the hospital but to no avail. You know we are facing economic hardship, to the extent that even if you find a vehicle, there will be no fuel. I got about two people to assist us to get to the hospital but their vehicles did not have fuel. So, we remained at home helplessly watching her till she died around 12 midnight.”

He however said while she was ill, the family was not aware that she had taken an injection and drugs to abort the pregnancy. “Wallahi, we did not know when the boy took her to the chemist for abortion,” he said.

Asked if they will take legal action against their late daughter’s fiancé, Malam Lawal said they have left everything to Allah. 

The deceased’s mother who simply identified herself as Umma said she is still recovering from the shock of the incident. She told Daily Trust that she was not aware of the pregnancy until recently when the Hisbah board intervened. She described her late daughter as very loving and obedient whom she will miss dearly.  

When Daily Trust visited Lambun Banki, where the quack doctor was residing, his medicine store was under lock and key.

It was gathered that Chidera Ugwu came to the area about five months ago. His neighbour – Ado Haruna, who sells provisions, said before the unfortunate incident, Chidera had never been found wanting.

“He’s been here for about five months and all we know about him is that he is good. He attends to anyone that is sick here professionally. In fact, he has never administered any injection that resulted to something bad,” he said.

“He has never been in the act of administering fatal injections to pregnant women. I think this is the first time he is committing such an offence. Nobody in this community will testify against him and even in this incident, he did not accept to do it until a few days ago when the fiancé pleaded with him and he finally accepted,” he said.

Daily Trust Saturday reports that Ukasha Muhammad, who is 19 years old has been arrested by the Kano State Police Command alongside 24-year-old Chidera Ugwu for alleged conspiracy and administering injections and drugs on Amina Balarabe with the intent to abort her pregnancy, leading to her tragic death.

The state’s Police Public Relations Officer, SP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, confirmed that the suspects confessed to the crime. 

According to Kiyawa, investigations revealed that Chidera Ugwu had allegedly been administering fatal injections to pregnant women, leading to tragic consequences.