Governor Umar Bago of Niger State has told security forces to arrest any one wearing dreadlocks in Minna, the state capital.
He made the announcement on Tuesday, April 22, during a meeting with security stakeholders at the Government House.
“We will have zero tolerance for rascality. Anybody that you find with dreadlocks, arrest, barb the hair, and fine him,” he said.
He added, “Nobody should carry any kind of haircut inside Minna. I have given marching orders to security agencies.”
His remarks have drawn strong, if not jocular, criticism online. Some Nigerians derided the governor’s order as oppressive, discriminatory and diversionary.
Clampdown on Haircuts Sparks Debate
The governor did not explain why dreadlocks were being targeted, but some insiders say authorities link the style with cultism and youth gangs.
This belief, however, is not backed by any official statistics. Human rights groups have warned that such profiling could lead to abuse.
Several users on X shared pictures of themselves with dreadlocks, calling the policy “backward” and “embarrassing in 2025.”
Others said this approach distracts from more serious issues like insecurity, poverty, and lack of youth jobs in Niger State.
A human rights lawyer, Abdullahi Musa, described the order as unlawful. “There is no law in Nigeria that bans dreadlocks or other hairstyles,” he said.
“You can’t punish someone for the way they wear their hair. That’s a violation of personal freedom,” he added.
Parents Blamed for Lax Discipline
Governor Bago also addressed the issue of parenting. He urged families to keep a closer eye on their children’s behavior.
He said the state would take stronger steps to enforce order and discipline among young people.
“Parents must watch their children closely. Government will now adopt a more aggressive approach to security enforcement,” he said.
Minna, like many other cities in Nigeria, has faced rising crime levels in recent months. Residents have blamed youth gangs and a lack of jobs.
Still, many citizens argue that cutting hair won’t solve the deeper issues affecting young people.
One user wrote, “This is not how to solve crime. This is how you make innocent people suffer.”
The Niger State government has not yet released any official document backing the order. Niger, Kwara, Zamfara has seen rising levels of banditry, and even jihadist terrorism in the last 10 years.
Most arrested terrorists did not have dreadlocks.
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