The Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria, Lagos State Area Unit (MSSN Lagos) has called on the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) to order its members to stop assaulting Muslims.
This is as the MSSN Lagos described the molestation of a female Muslim candidate writing the current examination of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), Khadijat Eniola Anisere, as an affront and call for chaos.
The female student was on Friday, September 2, assaulted by a female supervisor of WAEC when she (the student) went to take Biology examination at Egan Grammar School, Igando, Lagos State.
When representatives of the MSSN Lagos State Area Unit visited the centre on Monday, it was confirmed that the student was assaulted.
The delegation of the MSSN Lagos also reported that WAEC also sent some of its officials to confirm the incident.
Reacting to the assault, Amir (President) of the MSSN Lagos, Saheed Ashafa, condemned it, saying that the psychological effect caused by the assault could hardly be quantified.
According to Ashafa, assaults on Muslim candidates during Major examinations are becoming rampant.
While issuing a warning to the leadership of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) to call its members to order, Ashafa noted that such assault was capable of damaging the existing peaceful relationship between Muslims and Christians in Lagos State.
Ashafa also explained that the caution was necessary because those found unleashing assaults on the students were exclusively Christians.
He said, “Leadership of CAN needs to tread the path of honour by making definite call on its members who continuously harass and assault the Muslims at every slight opportunity. Any refusal by the CAN to do this clearly shows that assaults on the Muslim students is a master plan to subjugate Islam and the Muslims.
“It seems that Christians in Lagos State are more interested in truncating the existing religious tolerance in the state. If not, why will some individuals go against the court order, that reaffirmed the interpretation of Section 38 (i) and (ii) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, by the Court of Appeal which allows for the legality and right to wear Hijab.
“The fact that GCE is an external examination which does not have specification on dressing makes it worst for the Muslim students to be assaulted. This is a mere confirmation of a classified hatred towards Islam and the Muslims.This will not be tolerated any further by anyone no matter the guise under which such occurs.”
Ashafa subsequently demanded for disciplinary actions against any official found guilty of assaulting students.
“We demand that WAEC reprimands this bias officer for displaying such an abysmal ignorance, in addition to that, a public apology within the next 72 hours should be tendered,” he added.
