Bishop David Oyedepo, founder of the Living Faith Church Worldwide, has firmly rejected calls from some Muslim groups for female students to wear hijab in Christian mission schools. Speaking during a church service, the popular cleric described such demands as "overstepping boundaries," likening them to "a tenant giving orders to a landlord."

He emphasized that mission schools were established on Christian principles, and these values must be respected. According to Oyedepo, anyone wishing to enforce hijab use should set up their own schools, where such dress codes can be freely applied. "Leave the schools for the owners. Go to your school; men and women can wear hijab there," he said.

The bishop warned against what he called "harassment of the church in Nigeria," stressing that such actions could provoke divine judgment. He reminded the congregation that "God is a consuming fire" and cautioned against undermining church institutions.

In addition to addressing the hijab controversy, Oyedepo prayed against rising crimes in the country. He specifically mentioned ritual killings, kidnapping, and farmland destruction, asking for God's judgment on those responsible for such acts.

The hijab debate has been a long-standing issue in states like Kwara, where Christian school authorities and Muslim groups have clashed over dress codes, especially in mission schools taken over by the state. These disputes have sometimes escalated into public unrest.

Oyedepo urged Christians to remain strong in defending their faith. He encouraged them to stand firm against policies or pressures that threaten church values, insisting that the original mission of Christian schools must never be compromised.

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