The Bauchi State Government has dismissed a social media report claiming that Governor Bala Mohammed approved a fixed ₦1,500 dowry for divorced women, describing the claim as false and deliberately misleading.
The Commissioner for Religious Affairs and Societal Reorientation, Muhammad Binni, made the clarification on Sunday while speaking with journalists in Bauchi.
According to Binni, a video circulating on Facebook and TikTok falsely alleged that the state government had introduced a policy on dowry for divorced and single women. The video also claimed that the traditional ruler of Zar, known as Gum Zar, had instructed residents to comply with the alleged directive.
The commissioner described the claim as “entirely false, baseless and fabricated.”
He 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 urged residents to disregard the video and refrain from spreading unverified information that could cause tension in the state.
“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 said.
The commissioner said the state government, under Governor Bala Mohammed, had continued to respect the religious beliefs, cultural practices and traditions of Bauchi residents.
“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,” Binni stated.
He further advised members of the public to verify information before sharing it, particularly on social media platforms.
“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 added.
The clarification followed a viral post attributed to a social media user, Boroh James Hussaini, which made several claims about alleged new marriage and dowry arrangements in the state.
Among the claims was that a woman who had given birth outside marriage would attract a ₦3,000 dowry, while women who had remained unmarried for a long period without having children would allegedly be married to drivers at no cost.
The Bauchi Government urged residents to rely on official channels for information about government policies and avoid circulating unverified claims.
