The Anambra government has refuted claims that it plans to commence the arrest of women seen without bras or pants in public places in the state.
A video alleging that the state government plans to commence the arrest of women without undergarments began circulating on social media on Sunday.
In the video, a voice was heard announcing the directive in Igbo language, claiming that Chukwuma Soludo, the state governor, issued the order.
“As directed by Soludo, any woman seen without bra and pant will be arrested and convicted,” the video said.
In a statement on Monday, Christian Aburime, the chief press secretary to the governor, said the report was intended to mislead the public and paint the state government in a bad light.
Aburime, who described the report as false and malicious, noted that the state government does not interfere with citizens’ choices of clothing or undergarments.
He advised peddlers of fake news to desist and urged the public to disregard such reports as it is untrue.
“The attention of the Anambra state government has been drawn to a malicious and entirely false information circulating on social media platforms, claiming that Anambra State Government begins arrest of girls who walk around without bras and pants before they start walking naked,” the statement reads.
“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 bad light.
“Although the government encourages decent dressing for all, 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.
“We urge the public to disregard this fake news and always verify information from official government channels before sharing. The peddlers of this false information are advised to desist from such acts of misinformation that could create unnecessary panic and tension in society.”
