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The Bauchi State Government has denied a widely circulated social media report claiming that Governor Bala Mohammed had approved a fixed dowry of ₦1,500 for divorced women, describing the allegation as entirely false and a calculated attempt to deceive the public.
Commissioner for Religious Affairs and Societal Reorientation, Muhammad Binni, addressed journalists in Bauchi on Sunday to clarify the government’s position.
The viral video, which has been trending on Facebook and TikTok, also falsely claimed that the traditional ruler of Zar (Gum Zar) had instructed residents to comply with the alleged directive, Binni said.
“The Bauchi State Government has never issued any directive or policy concerning the dowry of divorced or single women. The information circulating on social media is fake and intended to mislead the public,” Binni stated.
He called on residents to ignore the video and stop sharing unverified content that could trigger unnecessary tension.
“We call on members of the public to disregard the viral video and refrain from sharing unverified information that is capable of causing unnecessary tension and confusion,” he added.
Binni also noted that Governor Bala Mohammed had consistently demonstrated respect for the religious beliefs, cultural values and traditions of the people of Bauchi State.
“Governor Bala Mohammed has always respected the religious beliefs, cultural values and traditions of the people of Bauchi State. The government has not and will not impose policies that contradict these cherished values,” he said.
The commissioner appealed to the public to always verify information before sharing it on social media.
“We urge everyone to verify information before sharing it and to avoid spreading falsehoods capable of undermining the peace, unity and reputation of Bauchi State and its rich religious and cultural heritage,” he said.
A social media user, Boroh James Hussaini, had earlier posted the viral claim, which also alleged that the dowry for a single woman who had given birth outside marriage would be ₦3,000, while unmarried women who had remained unmarried for a long time without giving birth would be married off to drivers free of charge.
