The management of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology International School, Ogbomoso, Oyo State on Monday locked out some pupils for coming to the school dressed in hijab.

The LAUTECH hijab controversy follows a similar case at the International School, Ibadan. The Ibadan case is still in court.

According to reports, about 50 pupils of the LAUTECH International School resumed to school on Monday morning wearing hijabs. The school authorities, however, either locked out of the school gate or asked to remove the unofficial items of dressing.

An academic staff (names withheld) leaked the development to journalists in Ibadan by email.

The statement reads:

“Hijab imbroglio: Welcome to LAUTECH Secondary School , Ogbomoso, Oyo state. The story was dated back to 2011, when the first request was made to the Governing Board of the School to allow our willing Muslim females Children to use Hijab as part of their school uniform in line with Islamic dictate.

“Since 2011 barely eight years ago, several letters of appeal had been written to the GC while we wait endlessly without any concrete positive response to our simple request.

“Our Muslim girls over the period have been using Beret instead of Hijab in their own case contrary to the Islamic dictate.

“While our patience overtime as law abiding citizens was premised on our belief that the Management of the School will do the needful and give regard to the rule of law & provision of the Constitution guaranteeing fundamental human right of everybody.

“Having wait endlessly since 2011, it was decided on the 4th of January, 2019 that our willing Muslim female children should commence the use of Hijab as School resumes on 7/1/2019.

“The Children are in the school presently, teachers are threatening. They are removing Hijab on them. The girls disagreed. They disallowed them to enter. It’s noise presently. The school is still on. Our Muslim children that used Hijab are still outside the school.”

According to The Punch Newspaper, the school principal, Mr. Ibrahim Animashaun, confirmed the development and sued for peace.

He reportedly said,

“The school board of governors is yet to approve the use of Hijab. And the board is looking at their letter. So we are yet to communicate them. Until we communicate with them. The status quo remain until the board approve their request.

“We spoke with the aggrieved parents that their letter is still with the board. LAUTECH International School board of governors is looking at their letter.”