The crisis on the use of Hijab in Christian founded schools in Kwara State deepens Wednesday morning as violence broke out at Surulere Baptist School in Ilorin between the two religious groups.
Kwara State government yesterday directed the ten mission schools closed downover hijab issue to resume classes after almost four weeks but Christian staff of the school defied the directive.
As the Muslim girls resumed for classes in their hijab this morning, they were stopped by the Christian groups who had mobilised for the purpose. The school situation provoked the girls and their parents on ground.
The verbal exchange which followed between the Muslim parents and the Christian staff soon turned into exchange of dangerous objects including stones between the two parties.
As the parties propelled missiles on each other from across the road, security operatives were drafted in from their formations. They had to use teargas to disperse the rowdy scene before bringing the situation under control.
School pupils who resumed for classes, parents and teachers had to scamper for safety amid rains of teargas by the security operatives.
Reports said the situation was calm at St James School, Maraba and C&S College, Sabo Oke, but no pupil or student was allowed to enter the schools as they remained under lock and key in defiance of the state government’s directive.
There were also reports that pupils and teachers of St Barnabas LGEA School, Lajonrin Street, Sabo Oke, were chased out of the school premises with pupils jumping out of the windows at about 11.30 a.m.
Another report said yesterday’s resistance by the Christian community of the resumption of the ten schools started at ECWA primary school, Oja Iya around 7a.m, with a protest before spreading to Surulere Baptist School.
At the time of this report, no official reaction from the state government had been released. vx
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