Zeenah, wife of the leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, has tested positive for COVID-19.
Her son, Mohammed, made this known in a statement he personally signed and made available to reporters on Thursday in Kaduna.
Mohammed revealed that their family doctor carried out a COVID-19 test on her mother six days ago after a routine visit to the Kaduna State prison.
He said that the test came back positive coupled with the fact that her mother has been suffering from severe arthritis of the knee for years now.
The statement reads: “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 in order 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.”