A tragic incident has been reported at Lapai General Hospital in Lapai, Niger State, where a pregnant woman allegedly lost her unborn child after a power disruption occurred during a caesarean section.
The incident is said to have taken place on April 17, 2026, when the hospital’s generator reportedly ran out of fuel while doctors were in the middle of the emergency operation at the maternity ward.
According to eyewitness accounts and hospital sources, the sudden loss of electricity plunged the theatre into darkness, forcing relatives of the patient to urgently leave the facility in search of a replacement gas cylinder to restore power so the procedure could continue.
One witness, who claimed to be a close relative of the patient, said the operation had already begun when the hospital’s power supply failed.
He explained that he and another family member had to rush home to get a gas cylinder after the hospital’s own supply was exhausted during the surgery.
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He further stated that the situation led to severe distress within the family after the unborn child could not be saved despite efforts to continue the procedure once temporary power was restored.
Another source alleged that the hospital’s generator system failed mid-operation, leaving medical staff to struggle under extremely poor lighting conditions.
Residents also raised concerns about the state of healthcare delivery at the facility, claiming that the maternity ward has long suffered from inadequate equipment, unstable power supply, and poor emergency readiness.
Some community members further alleged that health workers sometimes carry out deliveries under torchlight due to frequent power shortages, while essential life-saving equipment such as oxygen cylinders has reportedly been unavailable for extended periods.
The incident has sparked renewed concern over infrastructure challenges in public hospitals, particularly in rural areas, where patients often rely on under-resourced facilities for emergency care.
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