Finally, Nigerian govt allows foreign doctors to treat El-Zakzaky, wife

The Nigerian Government has allowed a team of Doctors and Consultants to examine the health conditions of the leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, IMN, Ibraheem El-Zakzaky, and his wife, Zeenah El-Zakzaky.

Making the disclosure through a statement on Friday, the Islamic Human Rights Commission, IHRC, said the health experts would carry out an initial investigation into the health status of the duo.

“The initial investigation has highlighted the need for urgent probe into the health of the El-Zakzakys, which the team hopes will be carried out in the next couple of days,” the rights group stated.

Recall that the federal government had initially rejected the move to bring in foreign medical personnel in to the country to treat the detained Shiite leader, a development that attracted global outcry.

The IHRC had alleged in a statement on Wednesday that Nigeria’s security authorities were frustrating the efforts of the health team to examine him.

Mr El-Zakzaky and his wife were arrested in December 2015 by operatives of the Department of State Services following the deadly confrontation his members had with security agencies after confrontation with the convoy of the Chief of Army Staff, COAS, Tukur Buratai.

This reportedly left more than 1, 000 persons dead, mostly Shiites dead following the invasion of Mr El-Zakzaky’s shrine by the Nigerian Army led security forces.

The Shiites leader was fatally wounded and feared to have died as a result especially as he was held incommunicado at the facility of Nigeria’s Secret Police for months leading to sustained protests by IMN members across most northern states forcing government to put him on trial.

However, refusal of Federal Government to obey court orders granting him bail has helped to frustrate his members leading to the disruption of National Assembly activities on Thursday.