Detty December is usually marked by packed streets, late-night outings and a surge in movement across Lagos State.

This year, however, a growing number of women say the festive rush has come with an unexpected fear of having their wigs forcefully pulled off in public.

Several videos posted on social media have shown women recounting incidents in which their wigs were allegedly yanked off by motorcycle riders in different parts of Lagos.

Many wig users expressed shock, anger and concern over safety during the busy festive period.

A woman on TikTok Kemzrealtor, described how her wig was pulled off along Yabatech road. 

She alleged that the person involved was riding a motorcycle with Glovo branding and called on the company and the Lagos State government to take action.

“See how they removed it, you see. It is not cruise o. I want to call out Glovo. Glovo, your bike robbed me this night along Yabatech road. This is not clout chasing, this is not cruise,” she said.

According to her narration, the incident happened suddenly as she stepped out of a car and turned briefly to collect something from the driver.

“I humbly alighted from a car, and I did not boot early because it was sudden. The incident occurred at the instance when I turned to collect something from the driver,” she said.

She claimed the individual appeared to target her wig specifically.

“The perpetrator is definitely into wigs. So, the perpetrator’s belief is that it is all wig and to escape with it. See how he tore it,” she said.

The woman added that none of her other valuables were taken during the incident.

“The perpetrator did not collect the phone, my bracelet or my gold chain… when I shouted thief thief, the perpetrator still picked the wig and ran off,” she said.

In the same video, she repeatedly called on the Lagos State government and Glovo to intervene, insisting that her claims were genuine.

“Let me tell you why this is not a lie. I’m a well-known person… If there is a camera, a Glovo yellow bike robbed me this night. I will continue calling you people out until you do something about it,” she said.

She said the incident left her shaken and unwilling to move around freely during the festive season.

“I still can’t process it because I didn’t know they used to steal wig. In as much as I want to be outside this December, I can’t be because it’s not safe,” she added.

Another video posted on TikTok by a user Sarah_createsdaily, showed a second woman recounting how her wig was almost pulled off as she stepped out to attend a friend’s birthday celebration.

“They almost stole my wig. My friend is having a birthday and I just came down from bus to take bike, na so dem take draw the hair from back,” she said. In the video, her wig appeared partially detached, with part of the frontal loosened.

A third video posted by another lady, shadez_of_nessa, showed her standing by the roadside shortly after her wig had allegedly been forcefully removed. 

In the caption accompanying the post, she wrote, “Everywhere first blurr as dey removed my wig from my head today in yaba university road @Glovo you need to answer for this.”

The trend has caused fear among people, with TikTok users sharing videos showing creative ways to protect their wigs. 

Some women demonstrate tying scarves tightly, while others wear helmets over their hair before stepping out.

Contacted by Peoples Cazette, the Lagos State Police Command said it was unaware of the trend involving hair wigs being yanked off women’s heads. 

Promising to prosecute arrested perpetrators, the command’s spokesperson, Abimbola Adebisi, urged victims of the act to report their experiences to the police.

“First, we are not aware, and I’m not sure any of them (the victims) have gone to report at any police station. So, that’s why I said we are not aware. Even DPOs or area commanders, none of them have come up to make any complaints about such. That means they’ve not been coming out to report to the police,” Ms Adebisi said.

“Let them come out and complain, so that we can take action. And of course, if their wigs are being yanked off from them, it depends on the intents of whoever that is doing that. Even at that, no matter the level of the intention the person has, you don’t harass people like that. It could be because of the value of the hair,” she added.

“Whoever is arrested will surely be prosecuted. I’m surprised that such is going on, and nobody is coming out to complain,” Ms Adebisi said, warning that yanking off hair amounts to harassment under the law.

Commenting, a Lagos-based lawyer, Joseph Opute, explained to Peoples Gazette that the forceful removal of wigs from women’s heads amounts to a civil wrong, as well as a criminal offence.

“It is both a civil wrong and a crime. It is assault when you take something attached to another without her consent,” he said.

He added, “And it’s stealing when you take a wig from a woman’s head and make away with it. Those who do it can be both civil and criminally liable.”

In a city that rarely sleeps, this December carries a different beat for many women.

What should be nights and even days of music, lights, and celebration now come with caution, as ladies fear having wigs yanked off from their heads.