Owing to the high insecurity in the country, and an equating high level of security consciousness expected, Director-General of theNational Youth Service Corps (NYSC)Brigadier-General, Johnson Olawumihas banned Muslim women from wearing hijabs (Islamic veil) at NYSC orientation camps. Consequently, some group of muslim youths attempted protests pointing out that the rule is against their religious rights. However, the DG of NYSC insisted the ban stands and there will be no going back despite the complaints of a Muslim group who came to him to table their petitions against the prohibition. Speaking to the NYSC DG, representatives of the Muslim group said,
Members of the NYSC are Nigerians who have contributed to the development of this country; female corps members deserve protection by the NYSC. We don’t believe that a female corps member putting on hijab has done any wrong against the Act establishing the NYSC. So they deserve the respect of the NYSC. We have traveled far and wide and visited different camps. Why are the rights of female corps members being infringed upon. We are here to register our displeasure.”
The Director General of NYSC, Brigadier General Johnson Olawumi, who stated this when he received the League of Muslim Youths who came to lay their complaints concerning the ban in Da’awah yesterday in Abuja, expressed regrets that terrorists in recent times, have used ladies who wear long hijabs with suicide belts underneath, to kill people. He pointed out while reiterating NYSC’s tremendous respect for the religion and tribe of every Nigerian, that the scheme also had the responsibility of protecting the lives of corps members under its watch during the orientation camping exercise. In his response, Brigadier-General, Johnson Olawumi said,
Under my leadership, the NYSC will accord respect to every corps member, irrespective of tribe and religion. The incident in Benue State was caused by the use of long hijab. The security situation in the country is tough. There is the danger of somebody using hijab for other reasons. There have been cases where young girls put on hijab and eventually turn to suicide bombers. Boko Haram members know how to get at whoever they want as target. That is why we frown at the wearing of long hijab. Please call on all your Muslim youths to be patient and adhere to it, just for a short period during the camp. We frown at long hijab because of the security implication.”
Olawumi, however, encouraged the female corps members to use the short hijabs while they are in camp and solicited the understanding of the league in enlightening the youth on the matter in orientation camps.
Members of the NYSC are Nigerians who have contributed to the development of this country; female corps members deserve protection by the NYSC. We don’t believe that a female corps member putting on hijab has done any wrong against the Act establishing the NYSC. So they deserve the respect of the NYSC. We have traveled far and wide and visited different camps. Why are the rights of female corps members being infringed upon. We are here to register our displeasure.”
The Director General of NYSC, Brigadier General Johnson Olawumi, who stated this when he received the League of Muslim Youths who came to lay their complaints concerning the ban in Da’awah yesterday in Abuja, expressed regrets that terrorists in recent times, have used ladies who wear long hijabs with suicide belts underneath, to kill people. He pointed out while reiterating NYSC’s tremendous respect for the religion and tribe of every Nigerian, that the scheme also had the responsibility of protecting the lives of corps members under its watch during the orientation camping exercise. In his response, Brigadier-General, Johnson Olawumi said,
Under my leadership, the NYSC will accord respect to every corps member, irrespective of tribe and religion. The incident in Benue State was caused by the use of long hijab. The security situation in the country is tough. There is the danger of somebody using hijab for other reasons. There have been cases where young girls put on hijab and eventually turn to suicide bombers. Boko Haram members know how to get at whoever they want as target. That is why we frown at the wearing of long hijab. Please call on all your Muslim youths to be patient and adhere to it, just for a short period during the camp. We frown at long hijab because of the security implication.”
Olawumi, however, encouraged the female corps members to use the short hijabs while they are in camp and solicited the understanding of the league in enlightening the youth on the matter in orientation camps.
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