Niger State Governor, Umar Bago, has rescinded his earlier directive ordering the arrest of individuals wearing dreadlocks.
He made the announcement on Wednesday, April 23, following strong public backlash and criticism from civil rights groups.
The governor had initially instructed security agencies to apprehend anyone spotted with dreadlocks across the state, claiming the hairstyle was associated with cultism and increasing insecurity, especially in the capital city, Minna.
Bago said, “Rascality in Minna anybody that you find with a dreadlock arrest him and barb his hair.
“From this moment is fire for fire. Any attempt to harass any security officer is an attempt to harass the government of Niger State.”
Alongside the dreadlocks directive, Governor Bago also imposed a 12-hour daily restriction on the movement of commercial motorcycles and tricycles, banning their operation from 6 PM to 6 AM as part of broader efforts to tackle violent crime.
He further warned that any property found harboring criminals or drug dealers would be demolished, vowing to use maximum force to restore peace.
However, his remarks, particularly the one targeting individuals based on their hairstyle sparked a wave of outrage on social media and from the general public, who accused the governor of discrimination and adopting ineffective approaches to security.
In response to the criticism, Bago addressed the issue on Wednesday, April 23 during an event in Minna, where he also unveiled the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Airport as an alternative to Abuja’s Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport.
Adding that, “Yesterday, we read a riot act on hooliganism, and people misconstrued our words for people who have dreadlocks.
“We don’t have a problem with dreadlocks, but we have a problem with the cult here with dreadlocks. So, if you have dreadlocks and you have business, please come to Niger State.”
During his remarks, he dismissed the backlash as ‘media propaganda’ and emphasized that the security clampdown was focused solely on criminal groups, not innocent citizens.
He further stated that, “We are only driving that cult that is becoming a menace in Niger State. Thank you.”
Bago clarified that law-abiding individuals are not at risk and reiterated that the use of cult symbols including dreadlocks by criminals was the main target of the enforcement efforts.
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