Niger State Governor, Umar Bago, has walked back his earlier directive ordering the arrest of individuals with dreadlocks, insisting the controversial comment was misunderstood and not targeted at law-abiding citizens.
Speaking during an event in Minna, the state capital on Wednesday, Bago addressed the widespread criticism that followed his initial remarks, which linked dreadlocks to cultism and insecurity in the state.
“Yesterday, we read a riot act on hooliganism, and people misconstrued our words for people who have dreadlocks. We don’t have a problem with dreadlocks, but we have a problem with the cult here with dreadlocks,” he explained.
“So, if you have dreadlocks and you have business, please come to Niger State.”
The governor’s clarification comes after a public outcry, especially on social media, where citizens and civil rights groups condemned his initial order as discriminatory and poorly thought out.
Bago had earlier directed security agencies to arrest anyone seen with dreadlocks across the state, a move many described as an infringement on personal rights and freedom of expression.
“Rascality in Minna—anybody that you find with a dreadlock, arrest him and barb his hair. From this moment, it is fire for fire. Any attempt to harass any security officer is an attempt to harass the government of Niger State,” Bago had declared in a fiery public address earlier in the week.
As part of his security crackdown, the governor also imposed a 12-hour daily restriction on the operations of commercial motorcycles and tricycles, banning them from 6pm to 6am. He further threatened to demolish any property found to be harbouring criminals or drug dealers.
Despite the backlash, Bago remained firm on the broader security measures, stating, “We are only driving that cult that is becoming a menace in Niger State. Thank you.”
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He also dismissed the outrage as a product of “media propaganda,” insisting that the government’s focus remains on criminal groups who use cult-related symbols, including dreadlocks, to disguise themselves and evade law enforcement.
“Law-abiding citizens are not under threat,” he said.
Meanwhile, during the same event, Niger State witnessed a significant development in its aviation sector as the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Airport in Minna was officially designated as an alternative to Abuja’s Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport.
The announcement was made by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, during the launch of commercial flight operations by Overland Airways at the airport.
Keyamo lauded the airport’s facilities and strategic importance, stating, “The runway is an international runway; a 747 and a triple seven can use this runway. Why, over the years, this has been underutilised is still a puzzle.”
