Violence broke out between the Muslims and Christians on Wednesday after the Kwara State Government reopened 10 schools shut over Hijab (Islamic headscarf) controversy in Ilorin.
It was gathered that students wearing hijab were denied entry into the Baptist School, Surulere by some protesting Christians.
An eyewitness disclosed that he saw the Muslims and Christians throwing objects at themselves and that it took the intervention of security operatives to restore peace in the area.
The Christians, during their protest, displayed placards with various inscriptions such as ‘No Hijab in Baptist Schools and all mission/grant-aided schools’, ‘Otoge, give us back our schools, among others.
Both Muslim and Christian organizations had mobilized their members to monitor activities as they reopened schools on Wednesday.
Recall that the government shut the 10 schools on February 19, 2021, following a crisis on the wearing of Hijab by Muslim female students who are attending the schools.
The state branch of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) said that it would not agree to the use of hijab in schools established by Christian missions, saying that they were surprised that the government was trying to make a decision on a matter which is still before the Supreme Court.
CAN said, “The body condemns the use of Hijab in Christian Missions Grant Aided Schools as this will cause discrimination in schools and allow terrorists to easily identify our children and wards.”
The state government on Tuesday announced that the schools can be reopened on Wednesday, March 17, 2021.
A statement signed by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education and Human Capital Development, Kemi Adeosun reads “the government is convinced that its policy to allow willing Muslim schoolgirls to wear their hijab in public schools will lead to sustainable peace and communal harmony anchored on mutual respect and understanding.
“This path to mutual respect, understanding, and peace with regards to hijaab had long been adopted in all of the northern Nigeria and many states in the Southwest such as Lagos, Osun, Ekiti, and Oyo States.”
“The schools affected include C&S College Sabo Oke, ST. Anthony College, Offa Road, ECWA School, Oja Iya, Surulere Baptist Secondary School, Bishop Smith Secondary School, Agba Dam, CAC Secondary School Asa Dam road, St. Barnabas Secondary School Sabo Oke, St. John School Maraba, St. Williams Secondary School Taiwo Isale, and St. James Secondary School Maraba.
“As the students resume normal classes, the government took special notice of the plight of those of them preparing for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination and hereby directs affected schools to hold at least two-hour extra lesson for all the intending candidates after school hours daily.
“The government will provide light lunch for the students until the beginning of their exams while teachers allotted for the extra coaching will get stipends for their efforts.
“This is to bring the students up to speed ahead of the impending external examination. The closure of the schools was necessary to forestall security breaches that may affect lives and properties.
“The government sincerely commends the Christian and Muslim leaders for their understandings and their efforts to build peace within their respective communities in the past weeks. It urges everyone to join hands with the government to raise a generation of schoolchildren who will respect one another’s differences and together build a sustainable future for our state.
“Finally, the government reminds all its employees such as school principals and teachers in the affected schools to take special note of the policy. There will be zero tolerance for violations of anyone’s fundamental human rights under their watch.”
