A 56-year-old Islamic cleric, Yahya Nafiu, from Ilorin in Kwara State, Nigeria, is seeking financial help after his wife, Latoyossi Alake, gave birth to 11 babies in the Benin Republic. The unusual birth took place at a traditional home in Porto-Novo, with the children arriving in two batches between July 7 and August 14, 2024. Unfortunately, two of the babies died, leaving nine surviving infants.
Nafiu, who moved to Cotonou 19 years ago for business, shared that his wife Alake is his third wife and had two children before this incident. In addition to the children from his other wives, the family is now much larger and facing significant challenges.
He stated that he had informed several important figures, including the Emir of Ilorin, Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, about the situation.
“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. The babies were delivered in two separate months, July 7 and August 14, at a traditional birth attendant home in Porto-Novo,” Yahya said during a telephone conversation on Wednesday, August 28.
Nafiu explained that the family is struggling financially due to the costs associated with caring for the newborns. He mentioned the need for funds to cover medical expenses, marriage rites, and other costs before they can bring the children back to Ilorin to meet their extended family.
“One other major challenge that we are now facing before we could bring the children home to Ilorin to show them to my parents is how to raise money for the marriage rites, as well as medical bill and police report,” he stated.
He appealed to both the federal and state governments, as well as private individuals, to assist his family during this difficult time.
The National President of the Ilorin Emirate Descendants Progressive Union, Abdulmumini Abdulmalik, confirmed Nafiu’s background, adding that the cleric comes from the Onikeke Compound in the Popo Giwa area of Ilorin.
