A 56-year-old Islamic cleric has appealed for assistance in the upkeep of his wife and decuplets. Alfa Nafiu Yahaya, from Onikeke Compound in the Popo Giwa area of Ilorin Kwara State, recently had the decuplets in Benin Republic. His wife, Alake Latoyosi, 54, delivered 11 babies, comprising eight boys and three girls. However, two girls died at birth.
The Guardian learnt that birth attendants took delivery of the 11 babies on two separate occasions.The first delivery was on Saturday, July 7, 2024, while the second batch of children was delivered on August 14.
Yahaya said: “A few days after the delivery of the first set of children, the mother said she observed strange movement in her belly. On getting to the hospital after a scan was carried out, the doctor revealed that she was carrying another set of children.
Yahaya, who is the missioner of Ilorin Emirate Descendants Progressive Union (IEDPU) in Port Novo Ajase, Cotonou, Benin Republic, also confirmed the death of the two children to The Guardian on the phone, saying: “The remaining nine are hale and hearty.”
The pregnancy of the children, he said, lasted over three years before delivery. He claimed that the hospital’s attempts to determine his wife’s pregnancy were unsuccessful, as the medical doctors were unable to perform a successful operation due to what he attributed to spiritual influences.
Yahaya said that before the decuplets were born, he was blessed with many children, while his wife, too, had children for another man she divorced before their union. He lamented that his family is currently grappling with financial constraints.
“Our other challenge is bringing the children home to Ilorin to show them to my parents. We can’t raise money for the very expensive marriage rites as well as medical bills and police reports,” he added.
Reacting, the National President of IEDPU, Alhaji Abdulmumini Abdulmalik, confirmed that the children’s father hails from Onikeke Compound in the Popo Giwa area of Ilorin.
“History is repeating itself. About a century ago, after the end of World War One, history was made in Ilorin when a woman gave birth to decuplets at a single birth,” he said.
He appealed to the government and public-spirited individuals, especially philanthropists in the Ilorin Emirate, to support Yahaya financially and materially. Yahaya can be reached on 08034261774.
