The Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps(NYSC) Brigadier-General, Johnson Olawumi, has said there will be no going back on the ban on hijabs worn by female corps members.
This is coming on the heels of a protest by some youth, under the aegis of Muslim Youths in Da’wah.
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 travelled 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.”
Responding to the youths, Olawunmi said “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.”
He also 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.”
The NYSC scheme was created in a bid to reconstruct, reconcile and rebuild the country after the Nigerian Civil war.
