Niger State Governor, Umar Mohammed Bago, has made a U-turn on his earlier directive ordering the arrest of individuals with dreadlocks, following public backlash that trailed his comments.
Newsmen had on Tuesday reported that the governor instructed security agencies to arrest anyone wearing dreadlocks across the state, linking the hairstyle to rising insecurity and cult activities in the state capital, Minna.
He had also announced a 12-hour daily ban on the operation of commercial motorcycles and tricycles, from 6pm to 6am, as part of measures to address violent crimes.
“Rascality in Minna anybody that you find with a dreadlock arrest him and barb his hair,” Bago had said.
“From this moment is fire for fire. Any attempt to harass any security officer is an attempt to harass the government of Niger State.”
He had further warned that any house found harbouring criminals or drug dealers would be demolished, adding that the government would apply maximum force to restore order.
His statement on dreadlocks had drawn public criticisms from Nigerians particularly on the social media, with many castigating the governor for misplaced priority and lack of knowledge on tackling insecurity.
However, speaking on Wednesday in Minna during the declaration of the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Airport as an alternative to the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Bago clarified his earlier statement.
“Yesterday, we read a riot act on hooliganism, and people misconstrued 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 dreadlocks and you have business, please come to Niger State.”
“All that is media propaganda. We are only driving that cult that is becoming a menace in Niger State. Thank you.”
The governor maintained that the crackdown was not targeted at innocent citizens but at criminal elements who disguise themselves and use cult symbols to evade law enforcement.
