A 56-year-old Nigerian man, Yahya Nafiu, has called for assistance after his wife, Latoyossi Alake, shockingly gave birth to 11 babies in Porto-Novo, Benin Republic.
The unusual event has left the family in desperate need of financial support as they struggle to care for the surviving babies.
Nafiu, originally from Ilorin in Kwara State, revealed that the babies were born in two separate batches on July 7 and August 14, 2024, at a traditional birth attendant’s home.
Tragically, two of the babies have since passed away, leaving nine children fighting for survival.
The man, who relocated to Cotonou 19 years ago for business, explained that this is the third wife’s first set of multiple births.
His elder brother, Alhaji Zakariyau Nafiu, the Imam of Iponrin, confirmed the extraordinary birth, expressing concern over the family’s ability to provide for the surviving babies.
“Nafiu was born and schooled in Ilorin before he left for Cotonou 19 years ago for business.
“Alake is his third wife and had two children for him before this incident; apart from the children from the other wives.
“But two babies are dead with nine left, and we don’t want further fatalities.”
“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 told Punch in a telephone conversation on Wednesday, August 28.
“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.