The Management of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria says it is investigating an alleged claim that the lecture timetable in a particular department in the institution is aimed at preventing Muslim students from observing their five mandatory prayers.
According to reports, the claim was contained in an open letter written to the Vice-Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Kabir Bala, by one Muhammad Auwal Ibrahim.
The letter stated that a copy of the timetable “show that lectures are slated for 1-2 pm, 2-4 pm and 4-6 pm” and gave instances where students who stepped out to observe Asr prayer after the 2-4 lecture were denied access to the next venue for the 4-6 lecture.
It added:
“The lecturer pledge to give a test the following week and those absent will not write the test. The targets are those outsides, those who went out to pray.”
The writer said the timetable was an attempt to “Christianize the institution,” further alleging that lecturers in the said department also pushed lecture times on Friday in an attempt to clash with congregational prayers thereby making it impossible for Muslim students to attend Juma’at prayers.
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The director of the Public Affairs Directorate of ABU, Auwalu Umar, said the university management had not received the letter but had sighted it online.
He, however, said the management of the school has launched an investigation to know the department and faculty where this is taking place.
Also, the president of the Muslim Students’ Society in Nigeria (MSSN) at the university, Muhammad Zakariyya Al-Kaffawy, said the existence of the said timetable was never brought to the group’s attention until the online post surfaced.
Al-Kaffawy who described it as unfortunate said the timetable which came out three months ago was not made public until towards the end of the semester.
© Control TV 2021.
