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 move comes as the fallout continues over resurfaced social media posts allegedly linked to popular Nigerian singer, Simisola Kosoko, also known as Simi.

In a statement released on X (formerly Twitter) on Friday, the Agency confirmed that the Director-General directed operatives to begin an immediate inquiry following “suggestive online posts” that pointed toward potential child abuse within a daycare setting.

The post 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 emphasised that child protection remains its top priority and urged members of the public with relevant information to come 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.

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

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

These investigations follow a whirlwind of social media activity that began when screenshots of tweets from 2012 and 2013, purportedly authored by Simi, began recirculating.

The controversy reportedly ignited after Simi posted comments advocating for the castration of rapists and stating that “almost every woman she knows has been sexually assaulted.”

In response, critics unearthed the decade-old tweets, which some interpreted as being suggestive of inappropriate conduct or abuse in a daycare environment.

Simi has since addressed the uproar, maintaining that the old comments were misinterpreted and unrelated to any improper conduct. (Punch)

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