February 28, 2026 — News | SUNTV Global Channel
Nigeria’s anti-human trafficking agency, National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), has launched an official investigation following the resurfacing of old social media posts linked to popular Nigerian singer Simi, which have sparked widespread public outrage and debate over child protection issues.
In a statement released on Saturday, the agency’s Director-General, Binta Adamu Bello, ordered an immediate probe into allegations of possible child abuse and misconduct believed to have occurred at a daycare facility reportedly connected to the singer’s mother in Lagos State.
According to the agency, the decision followed intense online reactions after decade-old tweets attributed to the singer resurfaced. The posts, dating back to between 2012 and 2015, contained comments that critics described as inappropriate references to minors at her mother’s daycare.
NAPTIP said the investigation aims to establish the facts and determine whether any child rights violations or criminal offences took place.
The agency also urged anyone with credible information or direct knowledge of the alleged incidents to come forward confidentially through its reporting channels.
“All communication platforms are active and available to take complaints from anyone who may have been abused or violated at the said daycare,” the agency stated.
The announcement triggered mixed reactions online. Some Nigerians welcomed the probe, while others accused NAPTIP of shifting investigative responsibility to the public and applying inconsistent standards compared to previous cases involving celebrities such as Speed Darlington.
The controversy initially erupted after screenshots of old tweets surfaced on social media, including posts in which the singer joked about interactions with young children at the daycare.
In a strongly worded response, Simi denied any wrongdoing, describing the tweets as innocent reflections from her early adulthood when she worked at her mother’s daycare while pursuing her music career.
She said:
“Kids can be mischievous. If a child did something I found funny, I tweeted about it. Nothing I tweeted was from perversion.”
The singer also accused critics of misrepresenting her past statements and insisted she has always been an advocate against sexual violence.
NAPTIP reiterated its commitment to safeguarding children across Nigeria, warning that anyone found culpable of abuse, exploitation, or related offences would face prosecution under existing child protection and anti-trafficking laws.
The agency emphasised that reports can be submitted confidentially through its Abuja headquarters, Lagos Zonal Command in Ikeja, or via its official helplines and online platforms.
