The hoodlums, who were said to have been sponsored by some prominent Muslims in the town, stormed Baptist High School, Ejigbo as early as 8 am and walked straight to the principal’s office where they reportedly made some enquiries before they descended on him.
Source yesterday gathered that the school authorities had last Friday sent a female student home for allegedly wearing a veil (hijab) while in the school, a decision which reportedly generated controversy in the town and incurred the wrath of some Muslims.
On getting wind of the directive to the hijab-clad student, the Muslim youths in the town mobilised and moved to the school to demand an apology from the school principal yesterday. But when he refused to grant their demand, they resorted to attacking him.
Source also learnt that dangerous weapons such as axes, cutlasses and charms were liberally used by the irate Muslim youths, while the principal whose name could not be ascertained at press time, sustained serious injuries.
Besides the principal, some teachers in the school were also attacked and beaten by the mob which had descended on some members of staff of the school before they were rescued.
The traditional ruler of the community, the Ogiyan of Ejigbo, Oba Omowonuola Oyesosin, was said to have witnessed the incident and ordered the principal and other affected teachers to be taken to his palace to save them from the mob.
Ejigbo Baptist High School was originally a missionary school, but the recent schools reclassification programme of the state government resulted in its merger with students from Islamic and non-missionary schools.
The incident was representative of the concern voiced by those who felt that the merger of schools would breed chaos and generate religious tension in the state.
Similar incidents had recently occurred at the Baptists Girls’ High School, Osogbo, and Baptist High School, Iwo.
.jpeg)
.jpeg)
.jpeg)
.jpeg)
0 comments:
Post a Comment