Kwara Govt, Oyun Baptist High School, Ijagbo Imbroglio

It will be recalled that Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Kwara State chapter on 28th January, 2022 made a Press Release wherein it was categorically stated that at no time did CAN Kwara State Chapter nor the Proprietors of Mission Schools agreed to the use of Hijab in any of our Mission School but same was forcefully imposed and implemented by the state government.

In the same release, the Kwara State chapter of CAN called on the State Government to nip the problem in the bud before breakdown of law and order in the State. It is however regrettable that since the Press Release, the body language of the Kwara State Government and its agents had been against the stand and position of the Proprietors of the Mission Schools.

On 2nd February, 2022 we were informed that some Jihadist have mobilized and were ready to destabilize the academic session of OBHS. Promptly as early as 6am, the Ijagbo CAN Chairman called the Chief Imam of Ijagbo of the planned invasion of the OBHS by the fundamentalists, to caution them and await the outcome of the meeting scheduled to hold by 11am called for by the State Government.
Unfortunately, around 6:30am, without any provocation, the jihadist started shouting "No Hijab no school" as they Marched in batches to the School. Few of them were from Ijagbo, most of them were mercenaries from Offa, Ilorin and a number of them were from Osun State. Even Ijagbo Muslims confirmed that most of the faces at crisis zone were strange in the community. This is to let the public know how calculated and organized the attack was.

The fundamentalists besieged the School gate, sending the Oyun Baptist High School students back home. When we challenged them, they attacked us with all sorts of weapons. Their plan was to gain access to the School area and vandalize the structures which has just been renovated by the Old Students of the School in preparation for 50th Anniversary celebration. They kidnapped three of our people, took them to the rail line, tied their hands and legs, tortured them cruelly and threatened to slaughter them. It took the efforts of the alerted security agents on ground to rescue them.

All efforts of the Nigeria Police Force, DSS, and Nigeria Security and Civil Defense on ground to calm these fundamentalists proved abortive. The Security fired tear gas and pull their triggers, yet their mind was made up to wreak havoc. They were armed with various dangerous weapons, attacking students and passersby. While this was going on, the Christian parents, Proprietors and CAN representatives on sight were attacked, and it was due to the divine grace of God that we were not killed.

However, the fundamentalists were able to hurt many Christians, some were machete, clothes torned and badly beaten. We promptly rushed them to hospital in Ijagbo for treatment. Be it noted, that the fundamentalists were not out for a peaceful protest but they were out to disturb the peace of the society. This is history repeating itself. It was in March/April, 2021 that a similar Hijab Crises, which is believed to have been sponsored by the people close to and in government of Kwara State, ensued and resulted into brutality of some Church members and loss of properties worth millions of Naira in Ilorin.

The fundamentalists are the aggressors and all these were witnessed by security operatives. On the day in question they attacked anybody that is not dressed like them and thus there were reprisal attack from amongst them. For ease of reference, none of the Proprietors and Christians that went there were armed as they only carried their Bibles as their shield and buckler.

It is wicked, ungodly and unfair to tell lies to the general public about what happened on 3rd of February, 2022 just to get public sympathy and cheaply indict the Christian community. Jesus did not preached violence and that is part of Christian ethics. The Christians were forced in to the fence of the School. They manned the main road and attacked the passersby’s. They were the ones carrying weapons. So let them tell the public the truth and stop all these falsehood.
Oyun Baptist High School does not only have School in it, it has farmlands, Chapel, and other private properties owned by the proprietor.


NOW OUR POSERS
1. How did the Government circular on hijab enforcement of hijab found its way to Giwa Mosque's Imam in Offa when Churches doesn't have a copy?
2. When does an Islamic Clerics became law enforcement agents in Kwara State? 3. Are the armed Jihadist protesters Students of OBHS or Parents?
4. Are they of the ministry of education?
5. Was permission taken from necessary Security Agents before the so called peaceful protest was carried out?
6. Why were they armed, attacking and harassing Christians, students and passersby?
7. Who armed them with weapons and walkie talkies?

OUR DEMANDS
1. We want the Kwara State Government to unravel and unveil those causing public disturbance in the name of Hijab enforcement.
2. Who are the sponsors of this Jihadist?
3. Where do they get the walkie talkie and other telecommunication gadgets that were used on the particular day?

CHALLENGE TO THE KWARA STATE GOVERNMENT
Why is the State Government causing avoidable crisis in the State with a religion bias policy? Why trying to rob Peter to pay Paul? Why trying to hijack Christian heritage acquired through tithe, offering, fund raising and donations for Islam? Why is the State Government giving this secular, multi Religion State an Islamic coloration?
We hope that the Kwara State Government will not through this act of religious bigotry, project Kwara State to the world at large as a crisis loving state again.

OUR RECOMMENDATIONS
APPEAL TO THE KWARA STATE GOVERNMENTS
I. We appeal to the Kwara State Government to thread the path of lasting peace by rescinding this policy that is causing general unrest in the state and leading to disruption of students’ academic calendar. The students of OBHS are out of school now including those preparing Junior and senior Examinations.
II. Kwara State Government should respect section 43 and 44 0f the Nigeria Constitution 1999 as amended.
III. We appeal that the Kwara State Government live up to promise by returning the Christian Grant Aided Mission Schools to their Proprietors

An eye witness account to the OBHS IJAGBO IMBROIGLO

Kwara state gov should try to respect religious differences. Should the govt impose the way a church is run or force another religion on a church? Islamiyahs I am sure wont allow bibles or crucifix or jesus knowledge in it. Its a religous school not a secular school. My sister went to islamic school in Sudan though a christain and did not take christianity to the school but learnt everything Islamic.
Let Kwara State do more with their allocation to provide schools to accommodate all. Or Muslims provide affordabke and good schools to accommodate what they want

You are on point.
Thank you