Education security

Hijab Protest Turns Violent In Kwara State

Written by Basirat Memudu

At least one person has been reportedly killed and several others sustained various degrees of injury when a peaceful protest turn violent over wearing of Hijab by Muslim girls at Oyun Baptist High school (OBHS) Ijagbo in Kwara state.

Radio Nigeria gathered that the unrest ensued following a circular by the school management directing Muslim students to stop wearing Hijab to the school as from January 17th this year.

Kwara State Government in a statement issued by the Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, Hajiya Sa’adatu Modibbo Kawu has directed the immediate closure of the school pending the resolution of the issues.

The statement condemns the flagrant act of discrimination against anyone, especially children, on religious grounds, adding that such discrimination will not be tolerated in any public-owned institution in the state.

The statement also calls on security agencies to investigate and bring to book anyone linked to the violence to serve as deterrence to others.

Meanwhile, Commissioner of Police Kwara state command, Tuesday Assayomo, in a statement issued by the Spokesman, Okasanmi Ajayi appealed to the warring parties to embrace peace and shun any act that could jeopardize the current peace in the area.

He said the police would arrest and prosecute anyone found in any way truncating the hard earned peace in the State.

ALI MUHAMMAD RABIU