Adah, a friend to Itunu Babalola, the young Nigerian lady who recently died in Côte d’Ivoire prison, has recounted how the prison officials delayed efforts of the deceased to get treatment, resulting in her eventual death.
The 26-year-old was serving a 10-year jail term for human trafficking when she died in prison amid a battle with an ailment on November 14.
Itunu was said to have taken ill not long after she was jailed. The Nigerian was thereafter taken to the prison’s hospital where tests revealed she had an infection and was consequently treated.
But her sickness had persisted, which makes her to cough blood sometimes.
Amid concerns over her illness, Itunu was later taken to General Hospital in Bondoukou for another test which showed that she had diabetes.
Adah told BBC Pidgin that her late friend endured pains while in prison, adding that her body became swollen while she also vomited blood at some point.
According to her, when she visited Itunu in prison on November 8, 2021, she was a bit better but still complained of fever.
Adah said the female prison officials, however, denied Itunu the opportunity to visit the hospital, by refusing to take her there for treatment.
She said when Itunu was eventually taken to the hospital, she had become unconscious, adding that health officials initially battled to restore her.
Adah added that the deceased was later rushed to a military hospital in Abidjan, the country’s capital after her health worsened.
She said Itunu initially showed signs of improvement at the military hospital but started vomiting blood around 8 pm and died shortly after.
