At least one person has been reportedly killed with several others sustaining varying degrees of injury when a peaceful protest turned violent over the wearing of Hijab by Muslim girls at Oyun Baptist High school (OBHS) Ijagbo in Kwara State.
The unrest ensued following a circular by the school management directing Muslim students to stop wearing Hijab to the school as from January 17th.
Kwara State Government in a statement issued by the Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, Hajiya Sa’adatu Modibbo Kawu directed the immediate closure of the school pending the resolution of issues.
The statement condemned 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 called 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 acts that could jeopardise the current peace in the area, adding that the police will arrest and prosecute any one found wanting.
Reporting by Ali Rabiu; editing by Muzha Kucha