NO BAN ON USE OF HIJAB – NIGERIA POLICE BOSS

NO BAN ON USE OF HIJAB – NIGERIA POLICE BOSS

Nigeria Police Force said on Monday that the acting Inspector-General of Police Suleiman Abba has not banned the use of hijab by Muslim women in the country, contrary to rumours making the rounds.

Frank Mba, spokesperson for the police said in a statement that the speculation that the newly appointed police boss has banned the use of hijab in reaction to recent cases of use of teenage girls in hijab to carry out suicide bombings was not true, adding that for “purposes of emphasis, the new IGP Abba has not and is not contemplating a ban on the use of hijab”.

Meanwhile, Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) on Monday advised the Federal Government against banning Hijab (Muslim female headscarves), saying such proposal would be unconstitutional.

Okey Wali, President of the association, rather urged the government to find a lasting and peaceful solution to the security challenges threatening the country.

Wali told NAN in Abuja that placing a ban on wearing Hijab due to the recent spate of attacks by female suicide bombers was not a positive and lasting strategy to curbing insecurity.

The NBA president was reacting to recent calls by some members of the public that the government should ban wearing Hijab to checkmate female suicide bombers.

Wali said that it was the right of every individual to dress according to the requirement of his or her religion, adding that it was not an option to ask female Muslim faithful to stop wearing the Hijab.

“Wearing of Hijab by the female Muslim faithful has religious as well as cultural meaning, and nobody can take away that right from them.

“The security agencies should find lasting solutions to the country’s security challenges rather than place a ban on wearing of Hijab as that is an easy