In a blistering rebuke that has ignited Nigeria’s cultural discourse, veteran musician Daddy Showkey unleashed a scathing attack on Niger State Governor Umar Bago for banning dreadlocks, urging him to “cut your beard” before policing hairstyles.
Speaking in a viral Instagram video on April 23, 2025, as reported by, the Ghetto Soldier crooner labeled the ban “hypocritical,” arguing it unfairly targets youth expression while ignoring Bago’s own bearded style. The outburst, amplified on X, has rallied fans and sparked a nationwide debate on personal freedom.
Bago’s directive, announced on April 20, cited dreadlocks as a “security threat” linked to cultism, ordering barbers to avoid the style and mandating shaves for offenders. Showkey, born John Asiemo, countered that such policies alienate young Nigerians, questioning, “Dreadlock dey cause insecurity?”
He pointed to his own dreadlocked career, which inspired hits like Fire Fire, as proof of cultural pride. “If you want to ban style, start with your beard,” he jabbed, highlighting Bago’s facial hair as equally nonconformist. The ban, part of Niger’s anti-cultism crackdown, has drawn ire for its vague enforcement, with reports of forced shaves in Minna.