Bauchi Govt Debunks ₦1,500 Dowry Claim for Divorced Women
By Sule Aliyu Bauchi
The Bauchi State Government has officially refuted a viral social media video claiming that Governor Bala Abdulkadir Muhammad set a fixed dowry of ₦1,500 for divorced women.
The controversial video, which has circulated widely on Facebook and TikTok, alleges that the government enacted a new marriage policy, 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.
Another social media claim, attributed to a user identified as Boroh James Hussaini, alleged that the dowry for a single woman who had given birth outside marriage would be fixed at ₦3,000, while unmarried women who had remained at home for a long period 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, emphasising 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 Muhammad has consistently respected the religious beliefs, cultural values, and traditions of the people of Bauchi State since assuming office.
He also urged members of the public to verify information before sharing it, warning that the spread of false information could undermine the peace, unity and reputation of the state.
