For days, social media was abuzz with shocking claims: that a security outfit in Anambra State had been directed to arrest women who walk around without bras or panties. The alleged policy, which spread like wildfire, sparked outrage and disbelief.
But on Monday, the Anambra State Government swiftly shut down the rumors. In a strongly worded statement, Christian Aburime, Press Secretary to Governor Chukwuma Soludo, dismissed the claims as “false and malicious,” calling them an attempt to mislead the public and tarnish the government’s image.
The controversy started when a viral video surfaced, purportedly showing an announcement through a public address system warning women in the state to dress “properly” or risk arrest. The message claimed to be an official directive from the governor. Within hours, the internet was flooded with debates; some ridiculing the alleged policy, others furious at what they saw as a gross invasion of personal freedoms.
But the Soludo-led administration wasted no time in setting the record straight.
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“The attention of the Anambra State Government has been drawn to a malicious and entirely false information circulating on social media,” the official statement read. “We wish to categorically state that this information is not only false but also mischievous and calculated to mislead the public and paint the state government in a bad light.”
The government made it clear: while it encourages decent dressing, it has no business regulating people’s underwear choices. “The Anambra State Government… remains committed to protecting the fundamental human rights and dignity of all citizens,” the statement continued. “It does not interfere with citizens’ personal choices of clothing or undergarments, as such matters are private and protected by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
The rumor highlights a growing challenge in Nigeria’s online landscape: the spread of misinformation. In a world where fake news can gain traction within minutes, baseless claims can not only cause unnecessary panic but also divert attention from real issues.
