Muslim Youths Beat Up Principal, Teachers, Students To Pulp Over No-Hijab Policy

The new education policy in Osun State
claimed its first casualty on Monday as fierce-
looking Muslim youths invaded the Baptist
High School, Ejigbo, and beat up the students
and teachers.
The principal of the school, Mr. Layi Oguntola,
was thoroughly beaten and injured. Oguntola,
as of the time of this report, was said to be
receiving treatment at the Baptist Medical
Centre, Ejigbo.
The attackers said they came because the
school authorities stopped some Muslim pupils
from wearing the hijab.
The hijab is a scarf that covers the head and
chest, specially worn by a Muslim female.
Our correspondent learnt that the attackers
stormed the school while the students were
already seated in their classrooms.
They were said to have headed straight for the
Principal’s Office and asked Oguntola to
apologise for sending the hijab-wearing
students away from school but the principal
refused to do so.
There have been protests when the Governor
Rauf Aregbesola administration recently
introduced a new education policy, which
entails merger and reclassification of schools in
the state.
The Baptist conference specifically said it
would not allow hijab-wearing students in its
schools.
On Monday, the attacked students and
teachers were said to have run for refuge at
the palace of the Ogiyan of Ejigbo, Oba
Omowonuola Oyesosin. The monarch was also
said to have been instrumental to the rescue
of the wounded principal from the attackers,
made up of mostly youths.
The attack forced the Baptist High School and
other schools in the town to close abruptly for
the day as police were deployed in the town to
forestall reprisal.
Some Muslim students of the school were said
to have been turned back last week for
wearing hijab on their uniforms and their
parents were said to have reported the case to
members of an Islamic sect in the town.
Tension started building in the town following
the attack and the speculations that the
attackers were also planning to set ablaze the
United Baptist Church, close to the school.
Some Christian youths were also said to have
mobilised to defend the church.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state,
Mrs. Folasade Odoro, when contacted, said she
would find out the details of the incident and
get back to our correspondent.
Commissioner for Information, Mr. Sunday
Akere, confirmed the incident, which he
described as an unfortunate one.
He appealed to the people of the state to shun
violence, saying the state government in
collaboration with security agencies would
investigate and get to the root of the matter.
He said, “It is unfortunate that this happened
at a time when we are already achieving peace
in the area of schools reclassification.
“We are calling on all religious leaders and
stakeholders to refrain from taking steps which
could lead to the breakdown of law and order