The Delta State chapter of the Take It Back Movement (TIB) has criticized the Delta State Police Command over its recent declaration targeting what it describes as “indecent dressing,” which imposes a fine of ₦50,000 on violators.
The statement says the move is not only unconstitutional but also a dangerous distraction from the real crises affecting the state.
In a statement signed by Comrade Nelson Ubi, Deputy Coordinator of Delta TIB, Take It Back Movement described the new policy as “a war on personal freedom and an alarming misuse of police powers.”
According to the statement, while communities in Delta are grappling with surging violence—from banditry and kidnapping to drug addiction and armed robbery—the police have instead chosen to criminalize fashion and self-expression.
“At a time when families are burying loved ones, and communities live in fear of attack, the Delta State Police Force has found the real culprit: clothing,” the statement said. “This is not law enforcement. This is moral enforcement—and it has no place in a democratic society.”
The statement further questioned whether the new directive signals a broader ideological shift, asking if the state is quietly pushing a conservative moral agenda on a secular population.
“Is this a deliberate attempt to police morality and suppress freedom of expression under the guise of public decency?” the group asked. “What does a crop top or ripped jeans have to do with armed robbery, terrorism, or youth unemployment?”
The statement warned that the move could pave the way for deeper authoritarianism and religious extremism if left unchallenged. TIB called the policy “repressive,” “unjust,” and “a betrayal of the constitutional rights of citizens.”
“This is Delta State, not a theocracy,” said Ubi. “Our people will not sit idly while state agents tell us how to dress, while failing to protect our lives and livelihoods.”
The deputy Coordinator demanded the immediate withdrawal of the policy, insisting that security agencies must focus on protecting citizens, not policing their wardrobes.
The Delta State Chapter of the Take It Back Movement vowed to resist the “moral dictatorship masquerading as law enforcement,” and urged other civil society groups, legal practitioners, and rights advocates to join the call for its reversal.
“The dress of our daughters is not the enemy,” the statement added. “Insecurity is. Corruption is. Political failure is. If the government cannot guarantee safety, it must not take away freedom.”
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