Summary In a retrospective study of twin births in the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital from January 1982 to December 1990, there was an incidence of twins of 1/76 with a perinatal mortality rate of 118/1000. The major risk factors were shown to be preterm delivery and low birth weight, absence of antenatal care, failure to diagnose before the onset of labour, birth asphyxia, retained second twin and malpresentation.