Violence Breaks Out as Muslims and Christians Clash Hijab Controversy

Violence broke out at Surulere Baptist School in Ilorin on Wednesday as Christian staff of the school defied the directive by the Kwara State government asking the ten mission schools closed down over hijab issue to resume classes.

Gistlover reports that the Muslim girls who resumed for classes in their hijab dress code were stopped by the Christian staff of the school which 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.

Our correspondent reports that security operatives who were called in, 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.

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.

However reports shows that at about 11.30am, 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.

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 7am, 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.