Nigerian governor takes fresh action after heavy criticisms on order to arrest persons with dreadlocks

• Niger State Governor Umar Bago reversed his bid to apprehension individuals with dreadlocks aft wide backlash, which was seen arsenic discriminatory by critics
• Bago clarified that the directive was intended to people transgression groups utilizing dreadlocks arsenic symbols, not law-abiding citizens, and described the backlash arsenic "media propaganda"
• The arguable determination highlighted concerns implicit information measures successful Nigeria, with critics questioning the fairness and effectiveness of specified policies successful addressing crime

Minna, Niger state - Niger authorities Governor Umar Bago has reversed his earlier arguable directive ordering the apprehension of individuals with dreadlocks.

The determination to retract the bid follows a question of backlash from the nationalist and civilian rights groups, who accused the politician of favoritism and overreaching successful his attack to tackling crime.

Order to Arrest Persons with Dreadlocks: After Backlash, Nigerian Governor Makes U-Turn
Source: Facebook

Legit.ng had reported that Bago had initially instructed information agencies to arrest anyone seen with dreadlocks across the state, citing the hairstyle arsenic being linked to rising cult-related activities and insecurity, peculiarly successful Minna, the authorities capital.

His directive caused important nationalist outrage, with galore questioning the effectiveness and fairness of specified a wide measure.

"Rascality successful Minna – anybody that you find with a dreadlock apprehension him and barb his hair. From this moment, it is occurrence for fire. Any effort to harass immoderate information serviceman is an effort to harass the authorities of Niger State," Bago had declared during a nationalist address.

In summation to the dreadlocks directive, Bago announced a regular 12-hour regularisation connected commercialized motorcycles and tricycles, banning their cognition from 6pm to 6am, arsenic portion of a broader strategy to combat convulsive transgression successful the state. He besides warned that immoderate location harbouring criminals oregon cause dealers would beryllium demolished, emphasising that his medication would use “maximum force” to reconstruct instrumentality and order.

Dreadlocks order: Governor responds to criticism

The directive to people individuals with dreadlocks instantly sparked outrage connected societal media, with critics accusing the politician of promoting radical and taste discrimination.

Civil rights groups and citizens alike condemned the move, arguing that it unfairly targeted a radical based solely connected their quality and failed to code the basal causes of crime.

In effect to the aggravated criticism, Governor Bago sought to clarify his presumption during an lawsuit successful Minna connected Wednesday, April 23, wherever helium declared the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Airport arsenic an alternate to Abuja’s Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport.

Addressing the backlash, Bago stated that his comments had been misconstrued.

"Yesterday, we work a riot enactment connected hooliganism, and radical misconstrued our words for radical who person dreadlocks. We don’t person a occupation with dreadlocks, but we person a occupation with the cult present with dreadlocks. So, if you person dreadlocks and you person business, delight travel to Niger State," Bago said.

He went connected to picture the disapproval arsenic "media propaganda" and reiterated that the enforcement efforts were specifically aimed astatine transgression groups, not law-abiding citizens.

"We are lone driving that cult that is becoming a menace successful Niger State. Thank you," helium said.

Governor Bago vows to instrumentality down transgression elements

Order to Arrest Persons with Dreadlocks: After Heavy Backlash, Nigerian Gov Takes Fresh Action
Source: Facebook

Bago maintained that the crackdown was not aimed astatine mean citizens with dreadlocks but astatine transgression elements who usage the hairstyle arsenic a disguise to prosecute successful illicit activities.

He assured the nationalist that law-abiding citizens successful the authorities would not beryllium affected by the directive, which helium claimed was designed to people cult groups that had been utilizing dreadlocks arsenic a awesome to evade instrumentality enforcement.

"We are lone targeting transgression groups that usage cult symbols, including dreadlocks, to disguise their activities and evade instrumentality enforcement. This is not astir discriminating against anyone," Bago added.

While Bago’s clarification sought to easiness concerns, the occurrence highlighted increasing tensions implicit information strategies successful Nigeria, wherever arguable policies aimed astatine combating transgression person often sparked debates astir civilian liberties and quality rights.

Dreadlocks order: VDM berates Niger politician Bago

Previously, Legit.ng reported that a caller directive by Niger authorities governor, Mohammed Bago, banning the wearing of dreadlocks has sparked nationalist debate, with societal media professional Martins Otse, popularly known arsenic Verydarkman, weighing successful connected the issue.

The societal media critic, successful a video posted connected Wednesday, April 23, 2025, spoke retired against the directive, arguing that it could unit businesses specialising successful dreadlocks to unopen down successful the state.

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Source: Legit.ng