Nigerians were thrown into shock on Monday after a viral video surfaced showing a young TikToker, Abigail Nsuka, popularly known as Mirabel, tearfully claiming she had been raped in her apartment in the early hours of Sunday, February 15.
In the emotional video, Mirabel alleged that an unknown man forced his way into her home around 9am, assaulted her and inflicted injuries on her. The disturbing account quickly gained traction across social media, drawing widespread sympathy and outrage. Thousands of users demanded justice, including popular singer Simi, who lent her voice to the calls for accountability.
As the video spread, Mirabel reportedly shared her bank details online, prompting donations from concerned Nigerians. Social media personality Martins Otse, widely known as Very Dark Man, claimed he sent her N100,000, while others said they transferred varying sums. Estimates circulating online suggested she may have received between N1 million and N5 million from sympathisers.
Advocacy groups, including the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency, as well as the Ogun State Government, indicated interest in ensuring a proper investigation into the allegations.
However, doubts soon emerged as some social media users began scrutinising inconsistencies in her story. Critics pointed to similarities between her writing style and alleged messages from the supposed attacker. Questions were also raised by individuals in her neighbourhood, with one neighbour reportedly dismissing claims that she had attempted suicide by drinking a toxic substance.
The situation took a dramatic turn when an audio recording surfaced in which Mirabel allegedly admitted fabricating the story. In the clip, she reportedly confessed to creating a separate TikTok account to send herself threatening messages in order to make the incident appear real. She also suggested that her claims may have stemmed from personal struggles and hallucinations.
Following the reported confession, public sympathy quickly shifted to anger. Many donors demanded refunds, while others expressed concern that false allegations could undermine the credibility of genuine rape survivors and make it harder for real victims to come forward.
Women’s rights advocate Josephine Effah-Chukwuma, founder of Project Alert on Violence Against Women, strongly condemned the act, calling for prosecution. She warned that such false claims could worsen the challenges already faced by survivors dealing with stigma, disbelief and institutional barriers.
The Lagos State Domestic Violence Response Team also cautioned that misinformation erodes public trust and emphasised that justice requires truth, evidence and due process.
Legal experts have noted that Mirabel could face prosecution under Section 59 of the Criminal Code Act and Section 24 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act 2015. The law provides that anyone who knowingly spreads false information online that causes public alarm or distress may face up to three years in prison, a fine of up to N7 million, or both.
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Human rights lawyer Inibehe Effiong stated that false accusations of rape are serious offences that can attract criminal charges, particularly if the matter was formally reported to the police.
The spokesperson for the Ogun State Police Command, Oluseyi Babaseyi, confirmed that Mirabel has been discharged from the hospital where she was admitted and is currently in police custody. He did not confirm whether she would be formally charged.
The case has since sparked a broader national conversation about the dangers of misinformation, the misuse of social media influence, and the delicate balance between supporting alleged victims and ensuring due process.
