Nigeria: Muslim clerics storm schools to enforce use of hijab

From the Vanguard , This Day and The Punch

OSOGBO—The agitation for the enforcement of the use of hijab by Muslim female students of public schools in Osun State spread to other cities in the state as some Muslim clerics yesterday morning, trooped to St. Charles High School and Ife-Oluwa Middle School, both in Osogbo to enforce the June 3, 2016 court judgement.

Meantime, the state governor, Rauf Aregbesola, yesterday disclosed that neither his government nor himself ever ordered the use of Hijab by female Muslim students in public schools in the state. “It might interest you that my wife does not use hijab, my daughter does not use hijab. So, I did not order the use of hijab. My view on Islam is why I am suffering unmerited persecution. My crime is that I struggle to be a good Muslim and not because I hurt anybody.”

THISDAY gathered that the clerics (No fewer than 25 muslim clerics) went to the school around 8am to enforce the court order. 

The principal of St. Charles’ High School, Mr. Anthony Famoriyo, reportedly informed them that he could not fulfil their request because he was yet to be directed by the Ministry of Education to that effect. 

One of the principals of St. Charles’ High School, Mr. Anthony Famoriyo, when contacted in his office, confirmed that some Muslim clerics came to the school but he explained to them that he had not received any memo  to that effect from the state government.

There was calm in the school when journalists visited and some students drawn from many schools were seen on the field holding calisthenics rehearsal.  Some of these students wore hijab. Famoriyo said the people  left but promised to come back in full force.

He said, “ Some Muslims came this morning and said they wanted to enforce the use of hijab. We explained to them that we will allow our students to wear hijab whenever we get instruction from the state government to do so.

“You know that everything we do in schools follows procedure, what you teach, the way you teach. We are not against any group. We are here to teach our children and that is our mission.”

However, Islamic followers forcefully enforced the use of Hijab on those identified to be Muslim girls in the school.

Academic activities in the school were distrupted as the group also stormed classrooms to stop teachers on duty.