Hijab crisis: Kwara Muslims demand prosecution of culprits, release of white paper

Kwara State Muslim stakeholders in Offa/Oyun communities have called for the arrest and prosecution of those involved in the alleged killing and maiming of Muslims in the recent violence over use of hijab by female Muslim students in Oyun Baptist High School, Ijagbo. On February 3, some Muslims who staged a peaceful protest over the […]

Kwara State Muslim stakeholders in Offa/Oyun communities have called for the arrest and prosecution of those involved in the alleged killing and maiming of Muslims in the recent violence over use of hijab by female Muslim students in Oyun Baptist High School, Ijagbo.

On February 3, some Muslims who staged a peaceful protest over the refusal of the school authority to allow female students to wear hijab were attacked. One Habeeb Idris died from the attack while 11 others reportedly sustained gunshot injuries.

Addressing journalists in Ilorin, the spokesman of the stakeholders, Salahudeen Mohammed Nurudeen, asked the state government to ensure that the perpetrators were arrested and prosecuted.

The stakeholders also asked the government to release the white paper of the panel of enquiry set up on the crisis.

They also alleged that since the reopening of the school two weeks ago, “agents of the church in the school had continued to threaten Muslim schoolgirls who wore their hijabs in the school.”

The group added, “We hereby call on the Kwara State government, as the employer of those members of staff, to call them to order so as to avert another unnecessary crisis and breakdown of law and order.

“The government should adequately compensate the family of Habeeb Idris and settle all the medical and other expenses of other injured victims.

“Government and its agencies on education should stop the staff of the affected schools from intimidating our schoolgirls that wear hijabs.”