Endless hijab crisis on Thursday degenerated between Baptist High School, Oyun, Ijagbo, near Offa, Kwara and protesting parents of hijab wearing students who were earlier denied entry into the school.
The school insisted that hijab wasn’t part of uniform code, hence, the use of hijab, a woman headcover favoured more by Muslims would not be allowed.
CAPITAL POST gathered that parents of students who were denied entry stormed the school with dangerously weapons in violent protest.
Before Thursday, a source told CAPITAL POST, that the matter started last week as the hijab wearing students were turned back by the school management who explained that veil was not part of the dress code.
The matter degenerated to the level of breaking down of law and order as weapons were freely used before the police intervention.
Kwara State Police Command confirmed in a statement which was made available to journalists in Ilorin that the violence was in connection with
the wearing of Hijab in schools, “a matter that has been in contention between the Christian and Muslim faithful in Kwara State.”
The statement said, the matter has been brought under control as at Thursday, while it asked citizens to remain calm and law abiding.
“The Kwara State Police Command wishes to inform the general public, especially, citizens and residents of Ijagbo community and its environs, that, the Command’s Tactical units and conventional policemen deployed to Ijagbo have successfully restored peace and are also on ground to ensure that no further break down of law and order is allowed,” said SP Ajayi Okasanmi, spokesman for the state police command.
Reacting, Kwara State government expressed disappointment over the hijab related crisis, which it felt the matter has been resolved and laid to rest since last in Kwara schools.
Describing the development as unacceptable, the Commissioner for Education, Saudat Moddibo, said “the Kwara State Government unreservedly condemns what it sees as the flagrant act of discrimination against anyone, especially children, on religious grounds.
“Such discrimination will not be tolerated in any public-owned institution in the state.
“While the government and the security agencies continue to work with leaders on all sides, it hereby directs the immediate shutdown of the school pending resolution of the issue.
“The government commends the security agencies for their prompt action that has restored calm in the area.
“The government calls on them to investigate and bring to book anyone linked to the violence as a deterrence to others,” Moddibo said.
