The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons has launched an investigation into a daycare facility linked to singer Simi’s mother following viral social media posts that reignited controversy around the artiste.
In separate posts shared on Friday via its official X page, the agency disclosed that its Director General, Binta Adamu Bello, had ordered a probe into the matter.
It stated, “Trafficking in Director General of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Person (NAPTIP), Binta Adamu Bello, OON, has directed Operatives of the Agency to commence a full-scale investigation into the alleged Child Molestation and Abuse in a Day-care setting in Lagos, as deduced from the suggestive online post by a popular Nigeria Singer.
Following recent public discussions and concerns raised regarding alleged incidents of child sexual abuse or misconduct in daycare settings in Nigeria, we are committed to thoroughly investigating credible reports. We kindly request anyone with factual information, evidence, direct knowledge, or who was personally affected by the matters referenced in the viral posts or related experiences to kindly reach out to us confidentially.”
The development comes amid mounting backlash against the Duduke crooner over resurfaced tweets from between 2012 and 2014.
Trouble began after the singer took to social media to condemn sexual violence and defend rape victims. In her post, she wrote that almost every woman she knows has experienced sexual assault at some point and urged men to confront what she described as a culture of silence and denial. She added that calling out offenders should not be dismissed simply because a few allegations may turn out false.
As her comments gained traction, some social media users unearthed old posts she had made years ago. In one tweet, she wrote, “Why this 4 yr old boy tryna put hand inside my shet. Ogbeni wash it o.” In another, she stated, “I love to kiss the kids at my mom’s daycare -they’re super adorable and I’m crazy about ‘em.”
The posts sparked outrage, with some netizens accusing her of hypocrisy. Rather than issue an outright apology, Simi maintained that her advocacy against rape was not performative. She revealed that members of her team had deleted some of the old tweets due to their sensitivity, particularly as it concerned her family. She stressed that she had always spoken against rape and sexual assault, long before she became a household name, adding that while she never claimed to be perfect, she stood firmly by her call for an end to sexual violence. As online debates raged, the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency weighed in on the matter. The agency called on the Ogun State Government to conduct a preliminary investigation into the allegations linked to the resurfaced tweets.
Punch
