Lagos Women Say Wig Snatching Is the New Fear in Town

Detty December in Lagos is usually loud, chaotic, and unapologetically fun. Traffic till midnight, parties that spill into mornings, and outfits planned weeks. But this year, something strange, and frankly unsettling, is creeping into the festive mood. Women are saying they can’t even step out in peace anymore, not because of phones or bags, but because someone might yank off their wig.

Yes. Wigs.

Over the past few days, social media, especially TikTok, has been flooded with videos of women recounting how their wigs were forcefully pulled off in public places across Lagos. Yaba, in particular, keeps coming up. And while it sounds almost unbelievable, the fear is real, the anger is loud, and the stories are disturbingly similar.

One of the most viral videos came from a TikTok user, Kemzrealtor, who said her wig was snatched along Yabatech Road. According to her, the incident happened in seconds. She had just stepped out of a car and turned briefly to collect something when a motorcycle rider allegedly targeted her head, not her phone, not her jewellery, just the wig.

“This is not cruise. This is not clout chasing,” she kept repeating in the video, visibly shaken. She claimed the bike was branded with Glovo colours and called on both the company and the Lagos State Government to act. What made the incident more disturbing for her was that none of her valuables were touched. The wig alone was taken, even after she screamed for help.

“I didn’t know they steal wigs,” she said. “As much as I want to be outside this December, I can’t be because it’s not safe.”

She’s not alone.

Another woman, Sarah_createsdaily, shared how her wig was almost pulled off while she was stepping out to attend a friend’s birthday. In her video, the frontal of her wig was already loosened. A third woman, shadez_of_nessa, posted shortly after her wig was allegedly removed completely, saying everything went blurry the moment it happened.

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As the videos spread, so did the fear, and the creativity. Some women are now tying scarves tightly over their wigs. Others are wearing helmets before hopping on bikes. Lagos Detty December, but make it survival mode.

When contacted, the Lagos State Police Command said it was unaware of the trend. The police spokesperson urged victims to report their cases formally, stressing that yanking off someone’s hair or wig amounts to harassment and can be prosecuted. A Lagos-based lawyer also confirmed that the act qualifies as both assault and stealing under the law.

Still, for many women, the damage is already done.

In a city that never sleeps and thrives on movement, December is supposed to be about freedom, stepping out, showing up, and enjoying the season. But this year, that freedom comes with anxiety. And for some Lagos women, Detty December now starts with one question: Is my wig safe?