By correspondent in Minna.
The Niger State government has clarified its recent directive linking certain dreadlock hairstyles to criminality, stating that the order specifically targets gang members who have adopted the hairstyle as a form of group identity.
Governor Mohammed Umar Bago faced heavy criticism after declaring that individuals wearing dreadlocks should be arrested and treated as suspects, following the fatal stabbing of Amore Mohammed by a suspect named Nura, who was reportedly part of a group of dreadlocked attackers in the Fadikpe area along the Western Bypass in Minna.
The governor’s remarks sparked a nationwide outcry, with many accusing the government of stereotyping. Among the critics was Lagos-based musician Daddy Showkey, who announced the cancellation of his visit to Niger State in protest.
In response to the backlash, the state government issued a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Hon. Binta Mamman, emphasizing that the policy is not a blanket ban on dreadlocks but a targeted security measure.
“The executive order remains in effect, but it specifically applies to individuals who wear dreadlocks in front while shaving the back of their heads,” the Commissioner clarified.
She added, “This is not a blanket criminalization of hairstyles. It’s a preventive action based on intelligence reports, aiming to disrupt the formation of emerging gang or cult groups before they become entrenched.”
According to the Commissioner, intelligence has revealed a growing trend among criminal groups in Minna, particularly in certain hamlets, where gang members adopt a distinct hairstyle — dreadlocks in front and shaved backs — as a symbol of identity.
“Those targeted are individuals adopting this style while operating in groups, often known to security agencies. Law-abiding citizens with natural or full dreadlocks, male or female, are not under suspicion,” she said.
Hon. Mamman also appealed for public understanding, noting that the recently imposed 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew is a temporary security measure meant to enhance safety, not to inconvenience residents.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.
