If you have any business and you have dreadlocks, please come to Niger State – Governor Bago says he was misunderstood
Governor Umar Bago of Niger State has rescinded his earlier directive targeting individuals with dreadlocks in Minna, following widespread public outcry.
During a stakeholders’ security meeting on Tuesday, April 22, Bago had ordered the arrest, forced haircut, and fining of residents wearing what he called “unacceptable haircuts,” including dreadlocks
“Anybody that you find with dreadlocks, arrest, barb the hair, and fine the person. Nobody should carry any kind of haircut inside Minna. I have given marching orders to security agencies,” the governor had said.
He instructed security agencies to act immediately, sparking sharp criticism from civil society organizations, human rights groups, and the general public, who decried the move as a violation of personal rights.
Amid the backlash, the governor addressed the controversy on Wednesday, April 23, clarifying that his comments were not aimed at law-abiding citizens with dreadlocks. He explained that the directive was intended to target individuals allegedly involved in cult-related activities who were using dreadlocks as a cover.
“Yesterday we read a riot act on hooliganism and people misunderstood our words for people who have dreadlocks,” he said. “We don’t have a problem with dreadlocks but we have a problem with the cult here with dreadlocks. So if you have any business and you have dreadlocks, please come to Niger State. All that is media propaganda.”
