Nigeria’s National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has announced that it will investigate allegations of child sexual misconduct involving singer and songwriter Simisola Kosoko, popularly known as Simi, following renewed criticism over her past social media posts.

The controversy emerged after tweets from 2012 resurfaced in which the “Duduke” crooner allegedly commented about toddlers at her mother’s daycare centre. Public attention intensified after Simi spoke on sexual assault concerns in Nigeria in response to a now-retracted rape allegation made by a TikToker.

In a statement posted on Instagram on Tuesday, NAPTIP emphasized its commitment to thoroughly investigating credible reports of child sexual abuse. The agency urged anyone with direct knowledge, evidence, or personal experience related to the matter to confidentially come forward.

Responding to the backlash, Simi clarified that the posts were made when she was 23 and assisting at her mother’s daycare, insisting they were misinterpreted. “I’ve never been depraved in my life… I wasn’t trying to hide it because I don’t have anything to hide,” she stated.

She also noted that her team had started deleting some of the old posts to protect her family, although she was initially hesitant to remove them. As of now, no formal charges have been filed, but NAPTIP confirmed that it will conduct a full review of any credible evidence submitted.