Tacha Urges Responsible Parenting and Caution Amid Rape Debate

Former Big Brother Naija housemate Natacha Akide, popularly known as Tacha, has weighed in on issues of rape, false allegations, and the upbringing of boys in Nigeria.

In a video shared on her Instagram page, Tacha described rape as a grave matter that should never be exploited for personal vendettas. “Hold your male child by the neck,” she said, stressing that women must not use rape accusations as a means to retaliate against men. She warned that false claims undermine the credibility of genuine survivors, making it harder for victims to be believed.

Tacha also highlighted Nigeria’s patriarchal society, where women often struggle to have their voices heard and are sometimes treated as second-class citizens. “When you come out and are not sincere about real issues, it takes away from the real victims,” she added.

The reality star criticized what she described as prevalent rape apologists on Nigerian social media. She claimed that many male-dominated accounts defend or normalize harmful behaviour online, which increases the need for women to be truthful when raising such allegations.

Beyond false accusations, Tacha focused on parenting, particularly the role of mothers in raising boys. She encouraged parents to give sons the same attention and discipline often given to daughters. According to her, boys should be taught about consent, respect, and boundaries from a young age, and to understand that women are not property and that “no” is a complete sentence.

Tacha also addressed the online harassment faced by female celebrities who speak out against sexual violence, citing singer Ayra Starr and artist Simi as examples of women who faced backlash after discussing harassment. “It is so bad that even when women speak against rape, they get trolled and bullied into silence,” she said.

While acknowledging that men can also be victims of sexual violence, Tacha stressed that the majority of perpetrators remain men.

Her comments serve as a reminder of the importance of responsible parenting, social accountability, and the need to handle discussions of sexual violence with care.