Afrohouse singer Niniola Apata has shared the lasting trauma of witnessing the assassination of her father, retired Nigerian army brigadier-general Simeon Apata, describing the experience as something she will “never get over.”
The tragic incident occurred on January 8, 1995, in Lagos, when gunmen attacked and killed her father in his own home. In a recent interview with Jay On Air, Niniola reflected on the harrowing memory, noting that the psychological impact is intensified by the fact that she was her father’s favourite child.
“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.”
Niniola’s sister, Teni Apata, also spoke about the lasting effect of losing their father at a very young age. In 2023, Teni revealed that witnessing the assassination at the age of two left her “traumatised.”
“My father passed away when I was at such a young age. The trauma of losing my father at that age and him being assassinated in the presence of all of us,” Teni said.
“I was two years old when this happened. I come from war, and his passing away when I was a child robbed me of having that father figure.”
