The Governor of Niger State, Umar Bago, has ordered security agencies to arrest individuals wearing dreadlocks in Minna, the state capital.
He gave the directive during a stakeholders’ security meeting at the Government House on Tuesday, April 22.
Governor Bago directed that persons wearing dreadlocks should be arrested, given a haircut, and fined.
“We will have zero tolerance for rascality. Anybody that you find with dreadlocks, arrest, barb the hair, and fine him. Nobody should carry any kind of haircut inside Minna. I have given marching orders to security agencies,” he said.
Governor Bago also called on parents to take greater responsibility for their children’s conduct, warning that the government would now adopt a more aggressive approach to security enforcement.
The directive sparked outrage, and Nigerians have gone on X to react.
