The crisis over the use of Hijab by female Muslim students has spread to the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology International School in Ogbomoso, Oyo State.
It was gathered that about 50 students who went to school in hijab on Monday morning, were either locked out or asked to remove it.
An academic (names withheld) revealed the development to journalists in Ibadan, the state capital.
The statement he sent via electronic mail reads, “Hijab Imbroglio: Welcome to LAUTECH Secondary School, Ogbomoso, Oyo State. The story dates back to 2011, when the first request was made to the Governing Board of the school to allow our willing Muslim female children to use hijab as part of their school uniform in line with Islamic dictates.
“Since 2011, barely eight years ago, several letters of appeal had been written while we wait endlessly without any concrete positive response to our simple request.
“Our Muslim girls over the period have been using beret instead of hijab contrary to the Islamic dictates.
He added, “Our patience overtime as law-abiding citizens was premised on our belief that the management of the school would do the needful and pay regard to the rule of law and provision of the Constitution guaranteeing fundamental human rights of everybody.
“Having waited endlessly since 2011, it was decided on the 4th of January, 2019 that our willing Muslim female children should commence the use of hijab as school resumed on 7/1/2019.
“The children are in the school presently, teachers are threatening. They are removing hijab on them. The girls disagreed. They disallowed them to enter. It’s noise presently. The school is still on. Our Muslim children that used hijab are still outside the school.”
Confirming the development, the Principal of the school, Mr Ibrahim Animashaun, sued for peace.
He said in a telephone conversation, “The school board of governors has yet to approve the use of hijab and the board is looking at their letter. The status quo remains until the board approves their request.”
