Veteran Nigerian singer Daddy Showkey has fiercely criticized Niger State Governor Umar Bago following the governor’s controversial order for security agents to arrest and shave individuals with dreadlocks in Minna.
Known for his signature knee-length locs, Daddy Showkey took to Instagram on April 24, 2025, to challenge the governor’s directive in a post that quickly went viral.
Alongside a photo of himself, the music legend announced his plans to visit the state but mocked the governor, urging him to “cut his beard” before targeting dreadlocked individuals.
“Mohamed Umar DADA BE Your PROBLEM,” Showkey wrote, “I dey to come Minna but now you have ask your security agents to cut off dreadlocks so hold your State, but make you cut your Beer Bee.”
The post stirred a flurry of reactions from followers and fans who found the governor’s stance baffling and regressive. Many expressed dismay that in a time of economic hardship and rising insecurity, a leader’s priority would be regulating personal hairstyles.
One commenter wrote, “I’m even shocked that in 2025, a governor is more concerned about a hairstyle than the unemployed hungry people in the state. If anybody needs to be arrested, it’s the governor of that state. He is clueless and has no business being a leader. Big disappointment.”
Others questioned the logic behind linking dreadlocks to criminal behavior, accusing Governor Bago of reinforcing harmful stereotypes. “What does hair have to do with insecurity? This is laughable,” another commenter said.
One user even referenced Showkey directly, saying, “I couldn’t help but think of you when I saw that guy reading out his ban on dreadlocks — seriously?! So if an artist visits his state with dreads, they risk being arrested and shaved? Talk about misplaced priorities!”
The controversy stems from a statement made by Governor Bago during a security stakeholders’ meeting held on April 21, 2025. In the meeting, he instructed law enforcement agents to arrest people wearing dreadlocks in Minna, cut their hair, and impose fines on them.
The directive was met with swift condemnation across social media, as critics accused the governor of targeting a style commonly associated with cultural expression and artistic identity.
Faced with mounting criticism, Governor Bago later issued a clarification on April 23, attempting to limit the scope of his earlier order.
According to him, the crackdown on dreadlocks was intended specifically for individuals suspected of involvement in cult-related activities.
However, the explanation did little to ease public outrage, with many viewing it as a backpedal rather than a genuine correction.
“This kind of profiling only fuels discrimination,” one social media user responded. “Why not go after actual criminals instead of policing appearances?”
For Daddy Showkey, the directive feels personal and symbolic. A long-standing advocate for street culture and youth empowerment, he has used his image and voice to challenge stigmas around hairstyles and self-expression.
“You cannot define someone’s character by their hair,” Showkey has said in past interviews.
His current stance highlights a broader conversation about personal freedoms and the need for Nigerian leaders to focus on substantive reforms rather than symbolic displays of control.
