NAF Airlifts conjoined twins to Bayelsa after successful separation

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has airlifted a set of twins after successfully undergoing a separation surgery at the Federal Medical Centre in Yola, Adamawa State.

This was disclosed in a statement issued on Sunday by NAF spokesman, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola.

According to him, the twins – Mercy and Grace Aeiygbenmi, along with their parents and medical team have been conveyed to their base in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, Channels TV reports.

Reacting, the Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, who received them thanked the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, and the entire Air Force for the support provided throughout the process.

On his part, Abubakar, reassured Nigerians that the Air Force will continue to sustain its humanitarian relief operations, including medical outreaches, to alleviate the sufferings of victims of insurgency, banditry and natural disasters.

The twins who were born on December 1, 2019, were joined at the abdomen, and was successfully separated by the collective efforts of medical professionals.

The FMC Yola Medical Director, Prof Auwal Abubakar, who spoke to newsmen on Saturday during a farewell for the twins and their parents, said the surgery was finally done on August 10.

“We were getting set to do the surgery when COVID-19 came. It was a new disease and we were learning to cope with it. Many services at the hospital were suspended and even to get certain consumables was difficult…

“The separation was done on the 10th of August and there was no problem at all. We discharged them from intensive care on the third day. They are fully okay,” said Prof Auwal who led the team for the surgery.

He said it took only three hours for a 48-member team comprising specialist surgeons, anesthetics consultants, nurses, technicians, among others, to do the surgery.