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Summary: Nigerian singer Simi faced backlash online after speaking out against rape. Naija Feminists Media, a notable feminist organisation, described the attacks on her on X (formerly called Twitter) as a motive to divert the conversation and perpetuate rape culture. At the same time, a user on X responded to the tweet, that false rape accusations also deserve equal attention, warning that ignoring them could make real victims less believable. Research reveals that false rape accusations barely occur, but the prevalence of rape tops the charts.
A heated debate erupted on X (formerly Twitter) after Nigerian singer Simi spoke out against rape in connection to the Mirabel case. In response to the backlash she received, Naija Feminists Media, a feminist organisation, tweeted that launching a hate campaign against a woman for condemning rape exposes a hideous strategy to derail accountability and sustain rape culture.
“Launching a hate campaign on Simi for speaking up against rape is men’s strategy to continue to rape women with impunity. Engaging in faux rage to manipulate conversation on false rape accusations rather than rape itself is how men invite hate against themselves,” NFM tweet reads.
However, a user argued that equal attention should also be given to women who falsely accuse men of rape, claiming that ignoring false accusations could ultimately make real victims less believable.
“Kindly put all your energy as well towards ladies falsely accusing men of rape as well. Two wrongs can’t make right. Yes, women are being raped, but do you know that false accusations, too, will lead to more raping incidents simply because no one will want to believe or hear them,” the user’s tweet reads.
Background: Understanding Rape and False Accusation
According to the World Health Organization, rape is a form of sexual violence that involves sexual penetration without consent. Consent must be freely given, informed, and voluntary. If someone is threatened, coerced, unconscious, intoxicated, manipulated, or legally underage, they cannot give valid consent. WHO says about 1 in 3 women worldwide experience physical or sexual violence in their lifetime. This is not a marginal issue. It is a widespread public health and human rights crisis.
False accusation, on the other hand, the Federal Bureau of Investigation defines as a false report that is intentionally false or baseless, meaning it was deliberately made up, not simply unproven. Research summary by the National Sexual Violence Resource Center indicates that false reports of rape are estimated to fall between 2–10% of reported cases, meaning they are statistically uncommon.
It’s also important to understand that a false report does not mean the case is not proven. Many rape cases are dropped due to lack of evidence, fear, stigma, or intimidation, not because they were fabricated. This simply means that there is an overwhelming majority of rape claims that are not false.
In Nigeria specifically, sexual assault is severely underreported. Official data from the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs reported 27,698 cases of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV, including rape) between 2020 and 2023, with 1,145 deaths linked to these crimes. Furthermore, there is no comprehensive official annual conviction percentage publicly released on rape convictions, but several credible studies and civil society organisations have reported it. A civil Society analysis of 85 rape cases found that only about 23% led to arrest, and about 1% resulted in conviction, where data was tracked.
Similarly, the Women, Law and Development Initiative (WOLDI Africa) reported that 65 suspects were found guilty of rape in Nigeria from 1975 to around 2020, underscoring the extremely low number of convictions historically. These convictions are low from NFM’s research because rape cases in Nigeria are heavily under-reported due to stigma, victim-blaming, and trauma experienced by survivors, there are law enforcement challenges, including weak investigations, poor training, and corruption, further weakening cases.
Judicial delays and difficulties in proving cases beyond a reasonable doubt reduce conviction rates, a lack of proper evidence collection often makes prosecution difficult, and the absence of a centralised Sex Offenders Registry also limits effective tracking and accountability of offenders.
So when Simi said “men should stop raping,” the statement is addressing a widespread systemic issue, not attacking all men. Simi made that tweet in response to Mirabel speaking out about rape. After Mirabel shared her experience, Simi chose to publicly show her support and use her platform to address the issue of sexual violence. Rather than focusing on one incident alone, she used her voice to speak generally about rape, standing in solidarity with survivors and reinforcing the need for accountability and awareness.
Evidence is valid, agreed! But even when there is strong evidence, rape cases in Nigeria are often delayed or dismissed due to systemic failures and lack of urgency.
The case of Ochanya Obanje shows this clearly: that despite evidence, public outrage, and sustained campaigns even after her death, her perpetrators were released. Her story reflects a sad reality where evidence alone does not guarantee accountability, and perpetrators often continue living freely while families and activists keep fighting for justice.
Statements of false accusations damaging careers do not hold much water. A high-profile example is D’banj, who was accused of rape related to an alleged incident in 2018, after an investigation by the Nigeria Police Force and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC). Despite the serious nature of the accusation and the public attention, D’banj continues to receive recognition and endorsements and to maintain his career without being “cancelled” over the claims.
A similar pattern occurred with the rape accusations against Biodun Fatoyinbo, the founder of the Commonwealth of Zion Assembly (COZA). Photographer Busola Dakolo accused him of raping her as a teenager, sparking widespread debate and social media outcry. The police forwarded the case to the Director of Public Prosecutions, but progress stalled, and no decisive criminal conviction was obtained. In some reports, a court even dismissed related civil claims and awarded costs against the accuser. Throughout this period, Fatoyinbo denied the allegations and later returned to his pastoral duties, and many congregants continued attending his church.
These cases illustrate that accusations alone do not destroy men’s lives or necessarily lead to legal accountability in Nigeria’s justice system, and that public figures continue their careers despite serious allegations.
Research across multiple jurisdictions consistently shows that false rape accusations are rare. Data from the Federal Bureau of Investigation also estimates that false rape reports account for approximately 2–10% of cases. Similarly, reviews conducted by the Crown Prosecution Service found that intentionally fabricated allegations represent a very small fraction of reported sexual offences.
The argument that false accusations lead to more rape because people will stop believing women reverses the actual dynamic. In reality, distrust of women’s testimony already exists. Survivors are frequently questioned, scrutinised, and disbelieved. Public exaggeration of false accusation narratives can intensify that scepticism, making it even harder for victims to come forward. Equating rape with false accusations creates a false balance. It suggests symmetry where none exists.
In the status quo, rape is a menace and a harmful crime that causes severe physical and psychological trauma, unwanted pregnancies, infections, and long-term social and emotional consequences. It is also chronically underreported, meaning the true scale is even greater.
False rape accusations, while harmful and punishable, are statistically rare and do not represent a systemic crisis. Both are wrong, but they are not equal in scale or impact, and equating them creates a false balance that downplays the severity of sexual violence.
However, calling for equal energy often functions less as a genuine concern about justice and more as a rhetorical diversion. It shifts the conversation away from the overwhelming crisis of sexual violence and toward a statistically rare phenomenon. Justice is not a competition between victims and the falsely accused. It is about systems that can fairly investigate claims while recognising the broader reality of gender-based violence.
Way Forward: Expert advises due process
NFM further consulted a legal practitioner, Blossom Ifedike, for insights. She acknowledges that false accusations are demeaning to the accused, but it does not belittle the fact that rape is a crime.
She further mentions “some factors of false accusation can be attributed to psychological factors, traumatic experiences, and many others that affect the victims.”
She also says, libel and slander can be considered false accusations, on the account that there is an accused with valid evidence; however, rape still stands out, irrespective of the penal code, section “391-395”
She concluded by saying that during rape activism, people should avoid spreading false accusations or unverified narratives. The focus should be on supporting survivors and allowing due process to take its course.
“Finally, citizens should endeavour to create a safe environment for women and young girls,” she said.
Conclusion
False rape accusations are harmful, but they are not comparable in frequency, systemic nature, or impact on rape itself. Rape remains a global epidemic, and false rape accusations remain statistically rare.
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