Simi: NAPTIP moves to investigate alleged abuse at daycare centre

The Director-General of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, Binta Adamu Bello, has ordered a full-scale investigation into allegations of child molestation and abuse at an undisclosed daycare facility in Lagos.

The development comes amid ongoing fallout over resurfaced social media posts allegedly linked to popular Nigerian singer Simisola Kosoko, known professionally as Simi.

In a statement released on X (formerly Twitter) on Friday, the agency confirmed that the Director-General had directed operatives to begin an immediate inquiry following “suggestive online posts” pointing to possible child abuse in a daycare setting.

The statement read, “Director General of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (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.

“While appreciating the genuine concern of Nigerians on the matter, the Agency wishes to inform the general public that all its communication platforms are active and available to take complaints from anyone who may have been abused or violated on the said Day-care.”

The agency stressed that child protection remains its foremost priority and called on members of the public with credible information to step forward.

“NAPTIP has launched a full investigation into allegations of child abuse at a Lagos daycare facility.

“Anyone with useful information is urged to come forward and report through our official channels. Child protection remains our priority,” it added.

The probe by NAPTIP follows a similar move by the Lagos State Government.

Recall on Thursday that the Executive Secretary of the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency, Lola Vivour-Adeniyi, disclosed during a televised interview on Channels Television that the matter had been referred to the Commissioner of Police for preliminary investigation, noting that the agency could not ignore the allegations.

The investigations were triggered by a wave of social media activity after screenshots of tweets from 2012 and 2013, allegedly authored by Simi, resurfaced online.

Simi has since responded to the backlash, insisting that the old posts were misconstrued and had no connection to any improper conduct.