CONFINEMENT: Nigerian Mother Completing Third Month In Detention Without Charge

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A Nigerian mother has remained locked up in a maximum security jail at an unknown location for three months now without charge, visitation and legal or medical access. She was shot and possibly burned at her home before being carried away by members of the Nigerian army under the directive of the army Chief himself, General Tukur Yusuf Buratai. Her daughter, Dr. Nusaiba has since tried all means but been denied access to her mother.

She is Mrs Zeenatudeen Zakzaky. A mother of nine who had earlier, during the Goodluck Jonathan years, lost three of her six sons to a military massacre. Then President Goodluck Jonathan apologized to her family for the incident and prominent Nigerians like the current governor of Kaduna, Nasir El-Rufai went to their home to condole with the family on the loss.

This time around, with three more of her sons killed at home by the army and their home demolished on their heads, in what can be described as "honor killings," the situation is quite different as she is being held extra-judiciously without trial and there is no show of empathy from this Presidency.

In the recent incident in review, Mrs Zeenatudeen was at home when her house was stormed by members of the Nigerian army seeking revenge for some apprehensive youth, victims of last years massacre, daring to block their road with sticks and stones and tap a chest of one of them.

As a good mother and wife, after her husband had been shot six times, she tried to tend to him while grenades were thrown in their compound which was burned down with everyone in it according to videos online . Mrs Zakzaky in the process allegedly sustained her gunshot wounds and was possibly burned too. Her situation was so bad, it was first believed she had been killed.

On March 12th, it will be three months since Mrs Zeenatudeen has been locked up by the Nigerian government at an unknown location and denied any access to the world. She was not even allowed to bury her three more sons and possibly has not even been informed that they were killed. We pray to God that she is pitied before that date and allowed medical and legal access and her right to bail. We pray Nigeria obeys God and the constitution and Mrs Zeenatudeen is allowed to talk to her two daughters and last surviving son.

We pray for God to forgive those who have been unjust to her and other victims like her and have mercy on our nation so we do not continue to suffer the worst kind of humiliation including in terror, poverty and chaos as a result of God's wrath on us for these types of oppressive actions now and in our past.

God Hears The Prayers Of The Oppressed
The Prophet of Islam said: “Fear the prayer of the oppressed, even if he is a disbeliever, for there is no barrier (between it and Allah [the God]).” (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)

Psalm 10: (NET Bible) 10 His victims are crushed and beaten down; they are trapped in his sturdy nets. 11 He says to himself, “God overlooks it; he does not pay attention; he never notices.” 12 Rise up, Lord! O God, strike him down! Do not forget the oppressed! 13 Why does the wicked man reject God? He says to himself, “You will not hold me accountable.” 14 You have taken notice, for you always see one who inflicts pain and suffering. The unfortunate victim entrusts his cause to you; you deliver the fatherless. 15 Break the arm of the wicked and evil man! Hold him accountable for his wicked deeds, which he thought you would not discover. 16 The Lord rules forever! The nations are driven out of his land. 17 Lord, you have heard the request of the oppressed; you make them feel secure because you listen to their prayer. 18 You defend the fatherless and oppressed, so that mere mortals may no longer terrorize them.

Dr. Peregrino Brimah @EveryNigerian

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Articles by Perry Brimah, Dr.