A young Nigerian woman identified as Mirabel (@mirab351) sparked nationwide outrage after she posted a viral video alleging that someone sexually assaulted her inside her Lagos apartment.
In the video, Mirabel appeared visibly distressed as she narrated the alleged attack and shared screenshots of threatening messages she said the suspect sent to her.
What She Said In The Video
Mirabel said the incident happened on Sunday, February 15, inside her apartment. She explained that she had been struggling with insomnia and drank alcohol to help herself sleep. 
She said she eventually fell asleep but woke up around 9am after hearing a knock on her door.
Mirabel said she opened the door while still feeling intoxicated, and someone immediately pushed her back. She hit her head on the door and the fridge before losing consciousness.
She said she later regained consciousness and found herself restrained.
“When I opened my eyes, there was a man over me. There were clothes stuffed in my mouth and tied.”
When she tried to call for help, no one responded, so she just lay there while he raped her.
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The suspect allegedly sent threatening messages
After the alleged assault, the suspect reportedly contacted Mirabel and sent her disturbing messages.
Mirabel shared screenshots of the messages, in which the sender, identified as “Priston,” allegedly admitted to the assault and issued threats.
He also allegedly claimed that his family’s wealth would protect him from prosecution.
The alleged threats sparked further outrage online, with many Nigerians calling for the suspect’s swift arrest and prosecution.
Police and Lagos authorities launch an investigation
In a follow-up post, Mirabel said she attempted suicide, but a friend rescued her and took her to the hospital, where doctors are treating her.
Her case quickly gained widespread attention, and the hashtag #StopRapingWomen began trending across social media platforms.
Many Nigerians called on law enforcement agencies to act quickly and ensure justice.
In response, police spokesperson Abimbola Adebisi said the police referred the case to the Gender Unit and have reached out to her through her TikTok handle.
The Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA) also urged members of the public with useful information to contact the agency and help locate the survivor.
Is She Lying?
As the video spread widely online, some people began to question parts of her account.
A user identified as @Hybrid_Ola later shared a direct message from someone who said they had contacted Mirabel to offer help.
According to the message, the person claimed they had secured support from high-profile individuals and organisations and travelled to her reported location in Mowe.
However, they said their calls and messages were no longer answered after they arrived.
An alleged neighbour also questioned her claims, saying they were at home that Sunday and did not believe anyone could have entered the apartment to commit such an act.
The neighbour further claimed that Mirabel had previously told them her mother had just died and asked for donations, but they later discovered her mother had died in July.
Furthermore, popular content creator and activist Very Dark Man offered to fly her to Abuja so doctors could examine and treat her. However, she said she had already taken drugs to flush her system and had been sitting in hot water since the incident.
Another Twitter user also questioned why she was discharged from the hospital after just one day, despite reportedly taking Sniper and claiming she had suffered a cut on her private part during the alleged assault.
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So we wait…
In the middle of the ongoing controversy on whether Mirabel is lying or not, data shows that sexual violence remains a serious and widespread problem in Nigeria.
Reports indicate that the number of female rape victims rose sharply from 29% in 2020 to 65% in 2022. Studies also show that about 30% of women and girls aged 15 to 49 have experienced some form of sexual abuse.
In a fresh update, the Ogun State Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, Oluseyi Babaseyi, disclosed on Thursday that they have established contact with Mirabel, and she is currently in the intensive care unit for treatment.
He added that investigations would begin when she is stable.
In a concluding update, the Ogun State Police Command has reportedly arrested Mirabel after she allegedly admitted that her earlier claim of rape was false.
She made the admission during a viral phone conversation with VeryDarkMan, who shared the conversation on social media.
She admitted that aspects of her initial account were untrue and also admitted creating the threatening TikTok account herself to bolster her narrative.
As of writing this report, Mirabel is in the custody of the Ogun State Police Command. She would be charged to court soon.
If you or someone you know has experienced domestic violence or sexual abuse. Reach out to the Lagos DSVA or any NGO in your community for counselling and Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP).
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