NIGER State Governor Umar Bago has introduced a set of security measures aimed at tackling crime and improving safety in Minna, the state capital.

Among the directives he announced on Tuesday, April 22, was an order for the arrest, fining, and forcible hair-cutting of individuals wearing dreadlocks, a move the governor described as part of a broader effort to curb what he called ‘rascality.’

Speaking during a security stakeholders’ meeting at the Government House, Bago said the directive should be enforced immediately by security agencies.

“We will have zero tolerance for rascality. Anybody that you find with dreadlocks – arrest, barb the hair, and fine him,” he stated.

He added, “Nobody should carry any kind of haircut inside Minna. I have given marching orders to security agencies.”

The meeting, attended by security officers and traditional rulers, focused on enhancing security strategies across the state.

As part of the new measures, the governor also announced a ban on commercial motorcycles and tricycles operating between 6:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., with exemption only for vehicles handling medical emergencies.

Bago further urged parents to take more responsibility for their children’s behaviour, noting that the government would adopt a tougher stance on crime.

“Parents should warn their children. From this moment, it’s 100 per cent fire-for-fire,” he said, stressing that any property used to shelter criminal activity would face demolition.

Additionally, the governor directed traditional and community leaders, such as district, village, and ward heads, to document all residents within their areas, aiming to strengthen local intelligence-gathering and community policing.

The directives have generated debates among residents and advocacy groups, with some expressing concerns over potential human rights abuses and the risk of profiling based on personal appearance.