Cleric blessed with 5 babies cries for help

An Islamic scholar in a village in Nigeria’s Northwestern state of Zamfara has gotten embarrassed with blessings from his God and he needs help.

Mallam Ahmad Mahuta, 45, a polygamist, was expecting two babies from two of his pregnant wives. But when they delivered, he got more than he bargained: five babies were born for him within 72 hours.

The first wife delivered triplets. Seventy two hours after, the second wife gave birth to twins. All were born at home and all are healthy.

Mahuta, a subsistence farmer and an Imam in one of the mosques in his village, Kawaye in Anka Local Government Area of Zamfara, said : “only Allah can decide such blessings.’’

“Neither me, nor my wives had any inclination that we were going to have these babies with only two days between the deliveries. I really am happy to see the mothers and babies all doing well,’’ he said.

Mother of the triplets, Amina, 34 who gave birth to a boy and two girls said all babies were delivered safely at home as there was no prolonged labour.

She said, “we were all surprised to see three healthy babies because I did not carry a big stomach while pregnant.’’

For the other mother, Sa’ida, 31, however, “I have been expecting twins because it runs in my family and my mother had them over 20 years ago.

“I did not know that this was the time because I did not feel any different than I had during the earlier three pregnancies, this being my fourth,’’ she said.

Mallam Mahuta, whose duty as the father is to provide the money to feed these babies and the older 11 children, has appealed for assistance from well meaning members of the public to enable him cater for his family.

“The truth is I can’t afford to provide for all the needs of this enlarged family as my family size has now increased from 11 to 16.

“I therefore want to appeal to the state and local government as well as the well-to-do to come to our aid,’’ Mahuta said.

The mothers of the babies did not attend any ante-natal during the pregnancy and all five babies were delivered at home as there was no hospital nearby.