A 56-year-old Nigerian man, Yahya Nafiu, has made a desperate appeal for financial assistance after his wife, Latoyossi Alake, unexpectedly gave birth to 11 babies in Porto-Novo, Benin Republic. The extraordinary event has left the family grappling with severe financial and logistical challenges.
The births occurred in two separate batches on July 7 and August 14, 2024, at a traditional birth attendant’s home. Unfortunately, two of the babies did not survive, leaving nine children in critical condition. Nafiu, who moved from Ilorin, Kwara State to Cotonou 19 years ago for business, is now faced with the daunting task of caring for the surviving infants.
Alake, Nafiu’s third wife, previously had two children with him. The couple's current situation has drawn concern from Nafiu’s elder brother, Alhaji Zakariyau Nafiu, the Imam of Iponrin. He highlighted the family's struggle to cover medical bills, marriage rites, and other expenses related to the births.
In a conversation with Punch on August 28, Yahya Nafiu described the situation, saying, "Yes, it is true that my wife gave birth to 11 children after a long period of pregnancy. They are eight boys and three girls." He emphasized the urgent need for financial support to manage the high costs associated with the care of the surviving babies and other necessary expenses.
The Nafiu family is now seeking assistance to address their immediate needs and to transport the children back to Ilorin to introduce them to Yahya's parents.
