Nigerian singer Niniola has opened up about the lasting trauma of witnessing her father, the late Brigadier-General Simeon Apata (rtd.), being assassinated in front of her and other family members.
Speaking in a recent interview with Jay On Air, the Afro-House star described the harrowing experience as one she will never recover from, revealing that she was especially close to her father.
“I was in the house when my dad was murdered. And I was his favourite child, so you can imagine [the trauma]. Till today, I’m not over it. I can never get over it,” she said.
“I was very young when it happened. I don’t remember my exact age then, but it wasn’t a good memory.” Brig. Gen. Apata (rtd) was assassinated by gunmen on January 8, 1995, in Lagos, in the presence of his wife and children. He was a respected military officer and educationist, known for founding the Apata Memorial School in Lagos.
Niniola's younger sister, fellow singer Teni, also spoke publicly in 2023 about the trauma of witnessing their father’s assassination at just two years old.
The tragedy has remained a painful chapter in the lives of the Apata family, and both sisters have previously spoken about how it shaped their upbringing and career journey.