Niger State Governor Umar Mohammed Bago has walked back on his controversial order calling for the arrest of individuals wearing dreadlocks, following a wave of criticism from the public.
AFRIPOST had reported yesterday thatBago had directed law enforcement agencies to apprehend anyone spotted with dreadlocks within the state, claiming the hairstyle was tied to criminal gangs and cult groups operating in the state capital, Minna.
He also imposed a dusk-to-dawn restriction on commercial motorcycles and tricycles, banning their movement between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. in a bid to curb rising insecurity.
During his initial statement, the governor declared, “If you see anyone in Minna with dreadlocks, arrest them and cut their hair,” emphasizing a no-nonsense stance on what he described as growing disorder in the state.
Bago also warned that properties sheltering criminals or drug peddlers would face demolition, adding that any act of defiance against security personnel would be treated as an attack on the government itself.
The governor’s comments quickly sparked widespread condemnation on social media, with many Nigerians accusing him of promoting stereotypes and targeting innocent civilians based on appearance rather than conduct.
However, speaking in Minna on Wednesday at an event declaring the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Airport as a viable substitute for the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, Bago clarified that his remarks were misunderstood.
He explained that the crackdown was not aimed at individuals simply wearing dreadlocks, but at those involved in cultism who use such appearances as cover.
“We issued a warning against hooliganism yesterday, and it was wrongly interpreted as a general attack on people with dreadlocks,” the governor said.
“We welcome anyone with dreadlocks doing legitimate business. Our concern is the criminal cult groups hiding behind such looks.”
He dismissed the backlash as media distortion and stressed that his administration remains focused on uprooting elements threatening peace and safety in the state.