Violence erupted on Wednesday in Ilorin, Kwara State capital following an announcement by the state government that 10 schools shut last month over the use of hijab by Muslim female students be reopened.
Muslim parents clashed with their Christian counterparts at Baptist School, Surulere where students wearing hijab were disallowed from gaining access into the school.
The groups hurled various objects including stones and plastic chairs at themselves.
They were however dispersed by security operatives with tear gas.
The controversy began over three weeks ago when officials of Saint Anthony Secondary School prevented Muslim female students from gaining entrance to the school, claiming that it is a missionary school.
Several meetings have been held among Muslim and Christian leaders and the government to resolve the issue.
The ownership of the ten schools is still pending in the Supreme Court as both the High Court and Appeal Court affirmed the state government as the owner.
But the government took the initiative on Tuesday night and announced the reopening of the schools, adding that deliberations were still ongoing.
“The government is convinced that its policy to allow willing Muslim schoolgirls to wear their hijab in public schools will lead to sustainable peace and communal harmony anchored on mutual respect and understanding.
“This path to mutual respect, understanding, and peace with regards to hijaab had long been adopted in all of the northern Nigeria and many states in the Southwest such as Lagos, Osun, Ekiti, and Oyo States,” permanent secretary of the Ministry of Education and Human Capital Development Kemi Adeosun said in a statement.
