Reactions have trailed the incessant harassment and profiling of youths in Okene Local Government Area of Kogi State for having dreadlocks and tinted hairstyles.
Reports of local government authorities policing and forcefully barbing these youths with scissors have made it to Facebook, and the conversation on whether it is right or wrong has begun.
ebirareporters.com gathered that the community leaders are in the fore of the new operation in Okene, while stakeholders in the entertainment industry are not having it.
Musical artiste, Soundboi Bme who first bought the story to limelight, posted:
“What is going on in Okene?
This is becoming too much already
Why?
Why will they see a young boy with hair, then they will stop by and use scissors to spoil the hair or barb it. This is becoming too much.
This is our Home ???? Okene is our Home
We can’t be scared of our home
Let’s say something before it gets worst????”
A Facebook user, Gimbiya Khadeejah had shared her version of the story. She said everyone was looking at her in the market for having a tinted hair, and was later confronted by another woman.
Popular music Producer, Goddykeyz described the act as a disregard to human personality, adding that Kogi is not a sharia state.
He said:
“This is an obscene disdain and sheer disregard to human personality all together with abuse and wrong interpretation of section 231 of criminal code and section 168 of penal code respectively which dwells largely on indecency….and more so the last time I checked Kogi state is not part of the Northern states that are affected by Sharia Laws“.
Beauty pageant and former Miss Kogi, Precious Aliyu said:
“Going about cutting young men’s hair is lame and it’s a misplaced priority. We have youths that are drug addicts, youths roaming the streets without no job, some with no education. What have you done for these things to change or even reduce? And you think people’s choice of hairstyles is what’s important than the aforementioned???? That’s the lamest thing I’ve heard in a while and y’all need to stop clowning“.
