Osun Religious Crisis: Masquerades storm merged school

For two days running, tension continues to mount in Iwo, Osun state as situation at Baptist High School, Iwo yesterday took a new dimension when some students of the school mobilized masquerades to the school.

The students of the school, it was gathered also appeared in masquerade attire and prevented academic activities in the school for several hours.


The masquerades, it was gathered were mobilized to the school by some students with the collaboration of some traditionalists in the town as various religious organizations have taken interest in the crisis rocking the education sector in he state.

The students of the school on Tuesday caused confusion in the school as they appeared in different clothes that correlate with their religious beliefs.

While the Christian students who wore white garments sown into choir gowns sang Christian songs, the Muslim students who appeared in veil on the other hand sang Islamic songs.

The state government last year introduced same uniform for all the secondary school students in the state and also legalised the use of veil (hijab) in public schools.

The Christian Community, especially the Osun Baptist Conference protested against the decision then but the protest was ineffective as the government failed to reverse the policy.

Pockets of crises had been recorded at the Baptist High School, Iwo over the use of veil (hijab) by female Muslim students.

It was gathered that security personnel stormed the school yesterday to prevent breakdown of law and order, even as officials of the state Ministry of Education were seen in the school taking measures to prevent further crisis.