There was tension in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, Wednesday, after the state government decided to reopen the 10 hitherto shut Christian schools, with the condition that Muslim schoolgirls be allowed to wear hijab.

The violence started after Christian officials of the Baptist School, Surulere disallowed the girls in Hijab from gaining access into the school.

This did not go down well with Muslim parents, leading to arguments and eventual clash, even as Christians students were singing gospel songs, while the Muslims students chanted Arabic songs.
The Christians carried placards reading: “Give us back our schools”, “Enough of marginalisation”, while the muslims also had Arabic inscriptions on their placards bearing: “Lahila Ilalahu Muhammadu Rosululah” (There is no deity worthy of worship except Allah).

As the songs deepened, the parties threw stones at each other while the police tried to disperse the crowd with teargas and firing of gunshots into the air.

It took the intervention of soldiers to disperse the crowd, but after the school gate and sign posts were damaged.
 

At C & S College, Sabo Oke, Christians were seen carrying placards with various inscriptions like: “Kwara State is for all, not an Islamic state”, “We say no to Hijab” and “Our school is our heritage”.The protestors prevented the students and teachers from entering the school premises.

The situation was not different at St. Anthony’s Secondary School, Offa Road, where students and teachers were also seen hanging around the school premises, with security operatives trying to calm frayed nerves.
The Christians are angered by the situation, accusing the government of not waiting for the outcome of the judgement of the Supreme Court before fully taking over the schools.
 
Meanwhile, the High Court and Appeal Court have already declared Kwara State Government the owner of the schools.

The Kwara State government took over all the missionary schools owned by Christians and Muslims since 1974.