Nigerian rapper Darlington Okoye, known as Speed Darlington, has sparked outrage with a nonchalant response to being declared wanted by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) over allegations of raping a 15-year-old girl.
NAPTIP issued the notice a month ago after Okoye failed to honour an invitation to its Abuja headquarters to address claims made during an Instagram Live video in April 2025, where he allegedly suggested involvement in the assault. The agency’s Director of Information and Communications Technology, Hakeem Lawal, sent Okoye a follow-up letter extending the invitation to June 26, 2025, after he cited prior commitments and short notice.
In a June 27 social media post, Okoye dismissed the allegations, stating, “I’m not worried,” and claiming the video was misinterpreted humor. The response, viewed by 50,000 users, drew condemnation from women’s groups, who cited Nigeria’s 1,200 reported rape cases in 2024, with only 10% convictions.
NAPTIP alleges Okoye lured the victim to a Lagos hotel, supported by CCTV evidence. Okoye faces charges under the 2015 Trafficking Act, carrying a seven-year sentence. The case has intensified calls for stricter enforcement, with Nigeria’s trafficking industry costing $500 million annually.