By KEHINDE AKINPELU, ILORIN
Officers and men of the Kwara state Police command, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the Nigeria Army have prevented a break down of law and order in Ilorin on Monday over raging hijab controversy.
Our Correspondent gathered that hoodlums reportedly attacked churches, schools and shops in Ilorin on Monday, creating fear and apprehension among residents.
The hoodlums reportedly brandished cutlasses, bottles and other dangerous weapons, while they matched along some roads in the metropolis, just as some of them wore masks apparently to cover their identity.
The people, who saw the locked gate of the Cherubim and Seraphim College Sabo Oke Ilorin, also attacked the school, as they threw stones into the premises even with presence of military operatives stationed at the entrance gate of the school.
The violence reportedly spread to St. Barnabas LGEA primary school, Murtala Muhammad way, Ilorin and some churches in the area, as people armed with cutlasses and broken bottles went on rampage.
The Christian community also mobilised its own forces to counter the attack in the bid to protect their people and property.
Also, there were reported gunshots from the men of the military when a man allegedly stoned an officer at one of the affected schools.
“The officers said they were angry over such development despite the presence of students in the school. .
The soldiers, who pursued the youths from the gate of the school accused them of creating problem around the school”.
The development, which caused apprehension among residents, saw shops and offices located in the area hurriedly closing up to avoid being attacked, just as it was reported that some shops were looted by the hoodlums.
Some of the affected areas include Sabo Oke, Murtala Muhammad, Surulere, Maraba, lanjori ,Post Office among others.
The scenario also saw security operatives being drafted to the affected areas, as armed security agents patrolled the metropolis to restore normalcy.
Speaking on the development, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Ajayi Okasanmi, said that the prompt intervention of men of the command nipped the situation in the bud, saying that normalcy had since been returned to schools and business community in the metropolis.
Speaking with journalists at the Surulere Baptist school, Ilorin during his monitoring to the 10 schools on Monday, the chairman Teaching Service Commission, Bello Abubakar, said that the government is gradually achieving her aim, adding that some SS3 and other students had resumed for lectures.
