Violence erupts in Kwara over wearing of Hijab in Schools

Violence broke out on Monday in Ilorin, Kwara State as hoodlums destroyed churches, shops and schools in Sabo-Oke, Muritala Mohammed Way and some other areas of the state over the wearing of hijab (veil) in Christian funded Mission Schools.

The hoodlums, who marched with dangerous weapons such as machetes, cutlasses and bottles and had a free reign while it lasted, unleashed violence in other areas such as Post Office, Surulere and Maraba – areas which housed Churches and Christian Schools.

According to reports, the situation was only brought under control when a detachment of Police Officers from the state command, member of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the Nigeria Army were deployed to the scene.

Spokesperson for the Kwara State Police Command, Ajayi Okasanmi (a deputy Superintendent of Police) said that the situation was brought under control through the intervention of the Police.

RovingNaija recalls that for almost a month the use of hijab in the grant-aided schools in the state was a subject of controversy among members of two religious communities in the state which resulted in the shutting down of ten schools.

The Schools affected include: Surulere Baptist Secondary School: Bishop Smith Secondary School, Agba Dam; C&S College Sabo-Oke; St. Anthony’s Secondary School, Ofa and ECWA School, Oja Iya. Others are: St. Barnabas Secondary School, Sabo-Oke; CAC Secondary School, Asa Dam road; St. John School Maraba; St. Williams Secondary School, Taiwo Isale and St. John School, Maraba.

Following the development and a peace keeping initiative by the state government, staff of affected schools were later directed to resume and prepare their final year students for external examinations by the Kwara State Teaching Service Commission.