The Delta State Police Command has issued a warning to residents, stating that indecent dressing now attracts penalties under the state’s Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law.
In a post published on its official X (formerly Twitter) account on Saturday, the command said the move was aimed at raising public awareness of laws many residents may not know exist.
“There are some laws that you don’t know the state frowns against. So, every weekend, we will be dropping some of these laws so that you will be aware,” the message read.
The post focused on Section 29 of the VAPP Law, which addresses indecent exposure. It warns that those who intentionally expose their private parts in public face a fine of up to ₦50,000 or may be sentenced to perform community service, or both, upon conviction.
In Pidgin, the police wrote: “As you no like wear cloth wey dey cover your body well, and you prefer dey waka go work, school, or anywhere with clothes wey dey show everywhere for your body, make you hear am – Delta state government nor dey smile for that kain dressing. VAAP law don ready to punish anybody wey no dress well.”
The VAPP Act was originally signed into law at the federal level in 2015 by former President Goodluck Jonathan and was later domesticated in Delta State in July 2020. It prohibits various forms of violence and abuse, providing protection for victims and legal sanctions for perpetrators.
The law also addresses other offences including female genital mutilation, harmful widowhood practices, battery, abandonment of dependents, and forceful ejection from the home.
