The wife of the leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky, Zeena Ibrahim, has contracted COVID-19 at a correctional centre in Kaduna State.
Human Right lawyer and counsel to the Zakzakys, Femi Falana (SAN), confirmed that his client had indeed taken ill.
“It is true, she has tested positive,” he said.
Zakzaky’s son, Mohammed also confirmed in a statement on Thursday that his mother has tested positive to coronavirus. He said his mother had also lost the ability to smell.
He 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 in order to understand what the problem was.
“Among the tests that were carried out was a test for the novel coronavirus. The COVID-19 test came back positive…”
He said she was being treated in the correctional centre, instead of being transferred to an isolation centre.
Sheikh Zakzaky and his wife have been in detention since December 2015 after a clash with Nigerian army in Zaria leading to the killing of at least 347 of his followers.