From Idris Khalid, Bauchi
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 N1,500 for divorced women.
The video, widely circulated on Facebook and TikTok, also alleged that the traditional ruler of Zar (Gum Zar) had directed residents to comply with the purported government policy.
Another social media claim by a user identified as Boroh James Hussaini alleged that the dowry for a single woman who had given birth outside marriage would be N3,000, while women who had remained unmarried for a long time without giving birth would be married off to drivers free of charge.
Addressing journalists in Bauchi yesterday, the Commissioner for Religious Affairs and Societal Reorientation, Engr. Muhammad Binni Abdulkadir, described the claims as fabricated, baseless and entirely false.
He stressed that the Bauchi state government had never introduced or approved any policy regulating the dowry of divorced or single women, insisting that the viral reports were deliberately created to mislead the public.
The commissioner urged residents to disregard the false claims and avoid sharing unverified information capable of causing unnecessary tension and confusion.
He noted that Governor Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed has consistently upheld the religious beliefs, cultural values and traditions of the people of Bauchi State throughout his administration.
Engr. Binni also appealed to the public to verify information before sharing it on social media, warning that the spread of fake news could undermine the peace, unity and reputation of Bauchi state and its rich religious and cultural heritage.
