Nigerian Afro-house queen, Niniola, has opened up about one of the most tragic experiences of her life, witnessing the assassination of her father, retired Brigadier-General Simeon Apata.
Gen. Apata, a respected Nigerian Army officer and founder of the prestigious Apata Memorial Schools in Lagos, was brutally murdered by gunmen on January 8, 1995. The incident, which happened right inside the family’s home, left an indelible scar on his children, who were present during the attack.
In a recent interview with Jay On Air, Niniola revealed that reliving that night still brings back haunting memories, especially because of the close bond she shared with 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,” the singer painfully recalled.
The “Maradona” crooner explained that she was still very young when the assassination took place, but the memory has remained etched in her heart.
“I was very young when it happened. I don’t remember my exact age then but it wasn’t a good memory,” she added.
Her younger sister, Teni, who has also grown to become a household name in the Nigerian music industry, revealed in a 2023 interview that watching their father being assassinated at the tender age of two left her deeply traumatised as well.
Despite the tragic loss, both sisters have risen above their pain, carving out successful music careers while keeping the legacy of their father alive. But as Niniola admitted, the scars of that fateful day may never truly heal.
