Many people have sustained various injuries in the renewed hostility between Muslim and Christians in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, the state government’s approval of hijab (Muslim veil) as part of dressing in public schools in the state.
The government had on Tuesday directed the 10 grant-aided missionary schools it earlier shut to resume for academic activities on Wednesday, a decision that did not go well with the management of the schools.
The teachers and management of the schools early on Monday protested over the government’s decision, insisting that they would not allow the use of hijab in their school.
An eyewitness said the protesters prevented students with hijabs and their parents from entering the schools, a situation which sparked violence, as both Muslims and Christians began to exchange words which later led both sides to throw stones at each other.
21st learnt that several people were injured in the process.
The spokesperson of Kwara State Police Command, Ajayi Okansanmi, said the police envisaged possible violence after the government announcement of reopening of the school, hence it deployed personnel to strategic places to prevent breakdown of law and order.
“Thank God for the deployment because there were a few hot words and some were throwing stones but our professionalism was brought to the fore and peace was restored,” he said.
