The Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN), otherwise called Shiites, on monday while protesting, called on President Muhammadu Buhari and the security agencies to allow their leader Mallam Ibraheem El Zakzaky and his wife embark on a medical trip abroad to address their deteriorating health conditions.
The protesting Shi’ites said that recent medical reports recommended that the El-Zakzaky and his wife should be flown abroad urgently following deteriorating health status.
In a statement issued and signed by Abdullahi Muhammad Musa, on behalf of the Academic Forum of the Islamic movement in Nigeria, it said that their protest was to update the public on the deteriorating health condition of their leader and his wife.
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Giving a brief report on their health conditions, the statement noted “the medical report discovered that Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky (H) sustained multiple gunshot injuries to the eyes, left hand and right leg on the 14th December 2015 during Zaria massacre ordered by tyrant Buhari. He underwent extensive surgeries in both eyes. Off late he has been having chest pain at rest and mild shortness of breath on a moderate effort. He also has severe neck pain associated with a tingling sensation in the upper limbs and difficulty in sleeping due to the pain. He suffered right-sided stroke in January 2018 and is on treatment for longstanding hypertension.
“Given the situation where he currently is, this is the maximum that can be done for the patient to salvage his only eye. If he is left like this, it is only a matter of time before he finally becomes legally blind. Furthermore, he has symptoms and signs of ischemic heart disease which can lead to myocardial infarction (heart attack). His neck symptoms are severely debilitating which often results in insomnia. This further adds to his deteriorating health condition.
“The Doctor’s report recommends that Sheikh Zakzaky should be transferred urgently to a centre where he can be evaluated by a panel of sub-specialists comprising of neuro-ophthalmologists, glaucoma specialists and low vision experts. He may require specialized glaucoma-tube surgery to lower his intraocular pressure to a safer level. This can and should only be done by highly experienced glaucoma surgeon(s).
“The report added that the Sheikh also has other co-morbid medical conditions, notably cardiac, orthopaedic and neurological, and therefore requires further evaluation, investigations and treatment by super-specialist medical consultants. All this and more can only be done at a highly specialized multi- speciality hospital out of the country.
“The report discovered that Malama Zeenah sustained multiple gunshot injuries to the abdomen and blunt facial trauma causing fracture of the nasal bones on the 14th December 2015 during Zaria massacre ordered by tyrant Buhari.
“She has severe, progressive and disabling bilateral knee joint pains affecting her activities of daily living including walking inside the house necessitating continuous use of a wheelchair. She has received multiple intraarticular steroid injections which are of no help and neither are the several oral and parenteral analgesics she is using. Off late, she has been having severe right sided colicky abdominal pain associated with nausea, vomiting and sweating, not relieved by analgesics or anti-spasmodic. She is hypertensive on medication and is currently experiencing chest pain radiating to the left arm on mild exertion. She also has progressive blurring of vision in the left eye.
“The Doctors strongly recommend that Sheikh Zakzaky and his wife be allowed urgently to obtain treatment in a highly specialized multi-speciality hospital out of the country”.
While condemning the continued detention of El-Zakzaky and his wife, the IMN said it was inhuman even after the court had ordered for their unconditional release.
“It is quite inhuman that the Sheikh and his wife are still under unlawful detention without proper medical treatment despite a Federal High Court judgement delivered in December 2016 by Justice Gabriel Kolawale that ordered for the immediate and unconditional release of the couple and payment of compensation to them for illegally detaining them.
“Obviously, the rights of the couple have been violated and their life is in danger; and history will judge you and I on the role we played with regards to the issue of Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky and his wife Zeenah Ibraheem.
“This is part of our protest for the inhuman detention of the couple and we are determined to continue with our protest demanding for unconditional release of our Leader, Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky (H) and his wife Zeenah Ibraheem”, the statement added.
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