By our Reporter:
The Bauchi State Government has dismissed as false and misleading a viral social media video claiming that Governor Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed approved a fixed dowry of ₦1,500 for divorced women.
The video, which has been widely circulated across various social media platforms, also alleged that the traditional ruler of Zar (Gum Zar) had directed residents to comply with the purported policy.
Adding to the misinformation, a social media user identified as Boroh James Hussaini claimed that the dowry for a single woman who had given birth outside marriage would be ₦3,000, while unmarried women who had remained single for an extended period without giving birth would be married off to drivers free of charge.
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 stressed that the Bauchi State Government has never introduced or approved any policy regulating the dowry of divorced or single women, noting that the viral claims were deliberately fabricated to mislead the public.
“The Bauchi State Government has not issued any directive or policy concerning the dowry of divorced or single women. The information being circulated on social media is fake and should be disregarded,” the commissioner said.
He urged residents to avoid spreading unverified information capable of creating unnecessary tension and confusion within the state.
Engineer Binni Abdulkadir also reaffirmed that Governor Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed has consistently respected the religious beliefs, cultural values, and traditions of the people of Bauchi State throughout his administration.
He further called on the public to verify information before sharing it on social media, warning that the spread of false information could undermine peace, unity, and the state’s reputation as a culturally and religiously diverse society.
