The management of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, has locked up two halls housing mosques over crisis rocking the Muslim students’ body of the university.
The university has also suspended religious activities in all its halls of residence.
This was made known in a June 4 circular signed by the university’s Dean of Student Affairs, Prof. Grace Akinola, of which a copy was obtained by our correspondent on Monday.
The circular read:
“This is to bring to the attention of all students that all religious activities are hereby suspended in all halls of residence until further notice. Any student that fails to comply will face immediate disciplinary action which may include revocation of studentship and expulsion.
Students are advised to pray in thèir individual rooms or move to religious centres.”
We asked a student the situation of things at the moment, and here's what he said:
"There are 3 male hostels where mosques are present in our school; (Awo Hall, Fajuyi and E.T.F halls). The school management ordered Hall Porters to clear all these mosques.
What they did was to bring out all the praying materials, teaching materials (course tutorials go on in the mosque, so there are tables, chairs and boards) and beds (some students who were not given residence sleep in the mosque)."
The origin of this problem.
It was gathered that the OAU branch of the Muslim Students Society of Nigeria has two factions in the institution.
One of the factions is recognised by the national body and the Muslim community, while the other, occupying the locked mosques, is not.
It was also gathered that the crisis deepened when the national Amir (President) of the Muslim Students Society of Nigeria (MSSN), Jameel Muhammad, during a visit to the university management complained about the activities of this faction.
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