Governor Umaru Bago of Niger State has withdrawn his directive on the clampdown by security agencies on persons with dreadlocks amid the security crisis in the state.
This came barely 24 hours after the governor asked security operatives to cut the dreadlocks of anyone arrested and imposed fines on them.
At a stakeholders’ meeting in Minna on Tuesday, Mr Bago declared a crackdown on criminals and individuals spotting dreadlocks, ordering the police to also cut the hair.
He said, “Anybody you find with dreadlocks, arrest him, shave his hair, and fine him. Nobody should carry any kind of hair again. I have given the security agencies a marching order.’’
However, the governor’s decision was greeted with public outrage as netzines faulted the governor for discriminating against those with the hairstyle.
Speaking on Wednesday, Mr Bago said the directive was issued against cult members terrorising the peace of the state.
He denied that his administration was out against dreadlocks in the state.
He stated, “Yesterday, we read a riot act to hooliganism, and people misunderstood our words for people who have dreadlocks.’’
Mr Bago, however, said his administration welcomed investors with dreadlocks into the state.
The governor added, “We don’t have a problem with dreadlocks, but we have a problem with the cultists. So, if you have any business and you have dreadlocks, please come to Niger State. All that is media propaganda.”
