This archive report was first published on 15 August 2019.
Published on August 15, 2019, Ibraheem Zakzaky, the leader of Nigeria's banned Shia Muslim group, is currently in India for medical treatment under police protection. His daughter, Suhaila Zakzaky, has revealed that her father is suffering from lead and cadmium poisoning, which may be caused by shrapnel in his body.
According to Suhaila, the poisoning could be a result of shrapnel from when her father was shot in 2015 during a raid on their home by Nigerian security forces. The incident led to the deaths of about 350 people, and Ibraheem Zakzaky and his wife have been in custody ever since, awaiting trial.
Ms. Zakzaky expressed concern about her father's condition, stating that his doctors have warned that if his lead levels reach a certain point, his organs may start failing, and he might die. This concern is backed up by a medical report from an Indian Shia group, which has offered to pay for Ibraheem Zakzaky's treatment at Medanta Hospital.
Meanwhile, Nigeria's government has apologized to India for Ibraheem Zakzaky's 'unruly behavior', as reported by the Premium Times. The government claims that the Shia leader has been making unreasonable demands, including wanting to move into a five-star hotel and demanding the removal of police protection provided by the Indian authorities.
