Violent protests broke out in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital on Wednesday morning after school officials at Baptist School, Surulere, prevented female students wearing hijab from entering the school compound.
This was after the government had reopened schools following the controversy surrounding the use of hijabs by female students in mission schools across the state.
For the parents of the students sent back home, the decision of the school didn’t go well with them, which led to the violent face-off, that involved throwing of stones, sticks and curses making rounds around the school.
The state government announced the reopening of 10 schools on Wednesday morning after they were first shut down in February.
This is coming after schools were shut down on February 19 over the same controversy.
To find a lasting solution, the government, led by Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRasaq set up a committee before announcing that schools will resume on March 8 provided willing students were allowed to use hijab.
However, the decision for reopening was rescinded over safety measures as some parties were unwilling to accept the decision of the government.
This led to the continuous closure of the schools.
“The closure of the schools became necessary to forestall security breaches which may affect lives and properties,” the permanent secretary in the Kwara State Ministry of Education Kemi Adeosun said.
“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 hijab had long been adopted in northern Nigeria and many states in the Southwest such as Lagos, Osun, Ekiti and Oyo States.”
The leader of Cherubim and Seraphim Movement Church in Kwara State Most Reverend Samuel Abidoye disagreed with the government’s decision to allow Muslim students to wear in Christian schools.
According to Abidoye, the movement is against the use of hijab school since the church would be responsible for the appointment of the management of the institution and decides the dress code and use of beret
