The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) is facing growing public criticism following a notice inviting victims and witnesses to submit evidence related to alleged child sexual abuse and misconduct in daycare centres nationwide.
The statement was issued amid renewed online scrutiny surrounding resurfaced social media posts linked to Nigerian singer Simisola Bolatito Kosoko, popularly known as Simi.
In its notice, NAPTIP said it was committed to investigating credible claims but urged individuals with “factual information, evidence, direct knowledge, or who was personally affected” to contact the agency confidentially via email or direct message.
However, the announcement triggered backlash on social media, with some Nigerians accusing the agency of shifting the burden of investigation onto the public and applying inconsistent standards compared to previous controversies involving other public figures.
Several commentators referenced NAPTIP’s earlier handling of issues involving controversial musician Speed Darlington, also known as Akpi, arguing that the agency appeared to have taken a more direct approach in that instance.
Critics questioned why NAPTIP was calling for submissions rather than initiating an independent probe based on widely circulated online materials. Others alleged double standards in the agency’s engagement with male and female public figures.
The controversy follows the resurfacing of decade-old tweets attributed to Simi, which sparked heated debate online. Some users interpreted the posts as inappropriate, while others argued they were taken out of context.
In response, the singer denied any wrongdoing, explaining that the posts were written over a decade ago when she was assisting at her mother’s daycare centre. She described them as innocent reflections of daily experiences and maintained that her words had been misinterpreted.
Simi also reiterated her longstanding opposition to sexual violence and rejected suggestions of improper intent, stating that nothing she shared stemmed from perversion.
Despite her clarification, the debate has persisted across social media platforms, with some calling for formal investigations and others condemning what they describe as mob misinterpretation of historical posts.
As of press time, NAPTIP has not announced any formal charges or specific investigative findings related to the matter.