By Akanji Alowolodu, Bauchi
Bauchi State Government has declared that there was no time it approved a certain amount of money as dowry for women who are intending to get married anywhere in the State.
It therefore dismissed as false and misleading, a viral video circulating on social media platforms, particularly Facebook and TikTok, claiming that the State Governor, Sen Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed approved a fixed dowry of ₦1,500 for divorced women.
The viral video, allegedly circulated by individuals described as mischief-makers, also claimed that the traditional ruler of Zar (Gum Zar) directed residents to comply with the purported government policy.
In a related claim, a social media user identified as Boroh James Hussaini alleged that the dowry for a single woman who had given birth outside marriage would be ₦3,000, while unmarried women who had remained at home for a long time without giving birth would be married off to drivers free of charge.
Reacting to the allegations while addressing journalists in Bauchi, the Commissioner for Religious Affairs and Societal Reorientation, Engineer Muhammad Binni Abdulkadir, described the claims as entirely false, baseless, and fabricated.
He stated that the Bauchi State Government had never issued any directive or policy concerning the dowry of divorced or single women, emphasizing that the information circulating on social media was fake and intended to mislead the public.
The Commissioner urged residents to disregard the viral video and refrain from sharing unverified information capable of causing unnecessary tension and confusion.
According to him, Governor Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed has consistently respected the religious beliefs, cultural values, and traditions of the people of Bauchi State since assuming office.
Engineer Binni Abdulkadir further called on the public to act responsibly by verifying information before sharing it and to avoid spreading falsehoods capable of undermining the peace, unity, and reputation of Bauchi State and its diverse religious and cultural heritage.
