By Newspot Nigeria News Desk
The demolition of Baptist Primary School 1, Idikan, has sparked growing public concern, with community leaders and civil society voices raising questions about due process, educational disruption, and religious sensitivity in Oyo State.
The school, a long-established public primary institution, has for decades served children from the Idikan community, which is largely Muslim. Following the demolition, reports emerged that the same site is now being used as a crusade ground, a development that has intensified public debate and drawn criticism from community stakeholders.
Reacting to the development, the Muslim Community of Oyo State (MUSCOS) described the demolition as deeply troubling, warning that it risks undermining social cohesion and access to basic education. In a statement issued on Monday, Mallam Ibrahim Agunbiade, an Executive Member of MUSCOS, said the action goes beyond the destruction of infrastructure and directly affects the welfare and future of schoolchildren.
According to him, Baptist Primary School 1, Idikan, has historically functioned as a public educational facility serving residents of the host community, most of whom are Muslims. He noted that the removal of the school without clear alternatives raises serious concerns about fairness and inclusiveness in public administration.
Agunbiade expressed concern that the conversion of the demolished school site into a religious crusade ground sends the wrong signal in a multi-faith society. He argued that if there were legal, planning, or ownership issues surrounding the property, such matters should have been resolved through dialogue and lawful procedures rather than demolition.
He warned that actions of this nature could erode trust among communities and weaken the culture of peaceful coexistence for which Oyo State is known. According to him, public institutions, especially schools, should not become flashpoints for religious tension or exclusion.
The MUSCOS executive called on the Oyo State Government to provide a clear and transparent explanation on how and why the demolition was approved. He also demanded accountability from all individuals and institutions involved in authorising or executing the action.
In addition, he urged the government to urgently provide alternative and adequate learning facilities for the affected pupils before January 5, 2025, and to ensure the reconstruction of classrooms on the demolished site. He further called for firm public assurances that public schools and assets would not be arbitrarily destroyed or repurposed along religious lines in the future.
“The destruction of a school amounts to the destruction of opportunity,” Agunbiade said, stressing that education remains central to social stability and long-term development.
He reaffirmed MUSCOS’ commitment to peaceful engagement, justice, and the protection of the educational rights of every Nigerian child, regardless of faith or background.
As of the time of filing this report, no official response had been issued by the Oyo State Government or the Baptist authorities regarding the demolition.
— Newspot Nigeria
