Kano Conjoined Twins Hassana and Husaina Return Home After Life-Saving Separation Surgery in Saudi Arabia

After nearly two years of specialized medical care abroad, conjoined twins Hassana and Husaina have triumphantly returned to Kano State following a complex and successful separation surgery in Saudi Arabia. The twin girls, born joined at the lower abdomen, pelvis, and spine, were warmly received on September 12, 2025, at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport by Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf alongside government officials and representatives of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The journey began in October 2023 when the Saudi government, under the directive of King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, offered to sponsor a life-saving operation at the King Abdullah Specialist Children’s Hospital in Riyadh. A team of 38 multidisciplinary specialists, including pediatric surgeons, neurosurgeons, orthopedic surgeons, anesthesiologists, urologists, and plastic surgeons, conducted the delicate procedure spanning nine stages and approximately 14 hours.

The surgical team faced extraordinary challenges due to the twins sharing vital anatomical structures, but through meticulous planning and expert care, the operation succeeded. The separation marks the 65th successful case under the renowned Saudi Siamese Twins Separation Program, which has provided humanitarian medical support to over 150 pairs of conjoined twins from 25 countries in three and a half decades.

Governor Yusuf pledged the Kano State Government’s full commitment to the welfare of Hassana and Husaina, including their healthcare, education up to university level, and general wellbeing. He expressed profound gratitude to the Saudi Kingdom for their humanitarian gesture, recognizing it as a beacon of hope for families worldwide facing similar challenges.

The twins’ parents, Hassan Isa and Suwaiba Basiru, also conveyed heartfelt thanks to the Saudi authorities for the unprecedented medical intervention that empowered their daughters with a new lease on life.

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As Hassana and Husaina reintegrate into their community, the Saudi government has outlined a one-year post-operation health monitoring period to ensure their continued recovery and wellbeing.

This remarkable medical and humanitarian achievement not only highlights the depth of Saudi-Nigerian cooperation but also shines a light on the extraordinary possibilities of modern pediatric surgery in changing lives.