The Delta State Police Command has announced it will begin enforcing laws against what it describes as indecent dressing in the state. This warning came through an official post shared on the Command’s verified X (formerly Twitter) account on Saturday.
According to the police, residents who wear clothes that expose too much of their body could face penalties under the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law, which was domesticated in Delta State in 2020.
The Command explained that those who go against the law could either pay a fine of ₦50,000 or be made to perform community service. The announcement was accompanied by a cartoon-style message written in Pidgin English, cautioning people who “prefer dey waka go work, school, or anywhere with clothes wey dey show everywhere for your body” to beware, as “Delta State Government nor dey smile for that kain dressing.”
The police also noted that they will be sharing more of such laws every weekend to educate the public on what the state does not tolerate.
The VAPP Act, originally signed into law in 2015 by former President Goodluck Jonathan and adopted by Delta State in 2020, is aimed at protecting individuals against various forms of violence in private and public life. While it mainly targets serious offences like domestic abuse, female genital mutilation, abandonment, and harmful widowhood practices, Section 26 of the law addresses indecent exposure.
Under the law, anyone who deliberately exposes their genital organs, or a large part of their body to cause distress or provoke sexual temptation, commits an offence and may face up to one year in prison or a fine of ₦500,000, or both.
The police emphasized that these measures are not just about morality, but about protecting the public from acts that may incite violence or discomfort.
Community members and civil society groups are expected to respond to the announcement in the coming days, especially around how the law will be enforced and what qualifies as indecent dressing.
