The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has said it is prepared to investigate any credible reports of child abuse following an online controversy involving Nigerian singer Simi.
The situation began after a TikTok user, Mirabel, made a rape allegation that later generated widespread public debate when inconsistencies emerged in her account. In the wake of the incident, Simi publicly condemned rape culture and called for greater accountability in cases of sexual violence.
Shortly after her comments, social media users resurfaced tweets she made in 2012 while assisting at her mother’s daycare centre.
Some of the decade-old posts, which referenced children in informal and affectionate terms, were interpreted by critics as inappropriate, leading to intense online backlash.
Although no formal complaint has been publicly filed against the daycare centre owned by Simi’s mother, the renewed scrutiny sparked calls on social media for authorities to examine childcare institutions more closely.
In response to the growing online concern, NAPTIP stated that it would investigate any verifiable allegations brought before the agency. The agency emphasised that action would be based strictly on credible evidence and not social media speculation.
NAPTIP also reiterated the importance of safeguarding children in schools and daycare facilities, urging parents and caregivers to report confirmed cases of abuse through appropriate legal channels.
Simi has since addressed the controversy, denying any wrongdoing and describing the resurfaced tweets as being taken out of context.
She maintained that her posts reflected everyday interactions during her time assisting at a daycare and rejected suggestions of misconduct.