My Mother Has Tested Positive To COVID-19 In Correctional Facility, Says El-Zakzakys’s Son

Leader of Islamic Movement in Nigeria’s (IMN) wife, Zeenah, has tested positive for COVID-19.

EI-Zakzaky’s son, Mohammed, who confirmed his mother’s condition on Thursday, lamented that Zeenah is not receiving COVID-19 treatment despite the confirmation of her status by doctors.

Kaduna State High Court in 2019 ordered the Department of State Services (DSS) to transfer Sheikh EI-Zakzaky and Zeenah to the Nigerian Correctional Centre, Kaduna.

The state government is prosecuting the IMN leader and his wife for alleged culpable homicide, unlawful assembly and disruption of public peace, among other charges.

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Mohammed, in a statement, said: “Six days ago after a routine visit to the Kaduna State prison by my parent’s doctors, my mother complained of fatigue, fever and a complete loss of the ability to smell. The doctors decided to carry out a number of standard tests to understand what the problem was. Among the tests that were carried out was a test for Covid-19.

“This was a routine procedure and it is important to understand that she has been denied treatment for acute medical conditions, including severe arthritis of the knee for years now.

“The Covid-19 test came back positive. I imagined that due to the diligent way in which the prison management had been conducting and managing the facility, a Covid-19 outbreak would be extremely unlikely. Because we have been doing our own due diligence and taking all possible measures at all times, we imagined that they were safe from the clear and present danger of Covid-19.

“To the best of my knowledge, the prison authorities have also been doing the same.”

He said his mother needs to be immediately hospitalised, adding that “this has not been done and so, I have no choice but to scream the details out”.

Mohammed said: “This most horrific news was delivered to the Deputy Comptroller of Prisons (DC) and his most immediate superior (CP). He granted unrestricted access for all medical staff to deliver primary care to my mother.

“The medical team was harassed and pestered to throw all caution and care or risk threats to their persons, their families and their personal Integrity during their efforts to deliver immediate primary care.”

Zeenah’s son claimed that another order came from the Comptroller of Prisons (CP) that a new test should be carried out.

“And so we did. Because apparently, they want to test the veracity of medical results that were from the same labs, following the same protocols,” he said.

Mohammed, who said his mother was yet to be hospitalised, claimed that he also feared for the life of his father, Sheikh Zakzaky.

He pleaded that his parents should be allowed to receive the necessary medical care in view of the danger posed by COVID-19.