Christian Association of Nigeria( CAN) in Kwara State yesterday insisted that it will not allow the use of hijab in grant-aided mission schools in the state.
It blamed some suspected Muslim fundamentalists for the Thursday bloody violence at Oyun Baptist High School.
Addressing reporters in Oyun local government area, Rev Samuel Ajayi, who spoke on behalf of the local chapter of CAN said that “it has been said times without number that we cannot and will not allow the use of hijab in our mission schools. We have since asked the state government to return our schools back to us.
“We want to inform the general public that whatever happens in our schools on hijab issue, should be dropped at the doorsteps of the state government.
“The aim and mission of those that went to Oyun Baptist High School to foment trouble on the issue of hijab will fail. CAN in the state will resist their move, even with the last ounce of our blood. We, therefore, demand that the hoodlums be fished out and appropriately prosecuted.
“We implore the state government to as a matter of urgency return our schools back to us. Christians are bonafide citizens of this state and we own it together. If the state government refuses we will use all constitutional means to get our schools back.”
Meanwhile, a group known as Kwara State Muslim Stakeholders yesterday urged the state government to set up a commission of inquiry to unravel the brains behind the killings and maiming of innocent Muslim parents in Ijagbo.
The group also charged the state government to enforce its policy on wearing of hijab by Muslim schools girls in all government grant-aided secondary schools.
The group addressed reporters in Ilorin, the state in reaction to the violence that erupted on Thursday this week at Oyun Baptist High School, Ijagbo in the Oyun local government area of the state.
The bloody fracas was allegedly caused by the refusal of the school management to allow Muslim girls who wore hijab into the school.
The people also called for immediate closure of the school and relocation of the students to other schools pending the resolution of the crisis.
The chairman of the forum, Alhaji Isiaq Albdulkareem alleged that one of the parents of the Muslim students of the school, Habeeb Idris, was killed during the fracas that also left 11 parents injured.
The group also called on the Police to investigate the circumstances surrounding the crisis with a view to bringing the perpetrators to book.
