Governor Umar Bago of Niger State has rescinded his earlier directive to arrest individuals wearing dreadlocks, following intense backlash from the public and civil rights advocates.
The governor had previously linked the hairstyle to cult-related activities, particularly in the state capital, Minna. Speaking at a public forum, he had declared, “Rascality in Minna—anybody that you find with dreadlocks, arrest him and cut his hair. From this moment, it is fire for fire.”
The order, which was part of broader efforts to combat insecurity in the state, included a nighttime ban on commercial motorcycles and tricycles from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m., and a threat to demolish houses found harboring criminals or drug dealers.
However, the directive was met with widespread condemnation across social media platforms and by rights groups who accused the governor of discrimination and misdirected policing.
Reacting to the criticism during an event in Minna on Wednesday, Governor Bago clarified his stance, stating that the policy was misunderstood.
“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,” he explained.
Bago further described the public backlash as “media propaganda” and maintained that law-abiding citizens are not the target of his administration’s security crackdown.
“If you have dreadlocks and you have a business, please come to Niger State. We are only going after the cult that is becoming a menace,” he added.
The governor emphasized that his administration is committed to restoring peace and order while respecting citizens’ rights.
