Award-winning Nigerian singer, Niniola, has revealed that she is still struggling with the emotional scars of witnessing her father’s assassination nearly three decades ago.

Her father, Brigadier-General Simeon Apata (rtd.), was killed by gunmen on January 8, 1995, in Lagos, right in front of his family.

Speaking in a recent interview with Jay On Air, Niniola described the experience as one she can never fully recover from, especially because 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.

She explained that although she was very young at the time, the painful memory has remained with her.

In 2023, her sister and fellow music star, Teni, also recalled how the tragic incident left her traumatised after witnessing it as a toddler.

Despite the pain, both sisters have continued to honour their father’s legacy through their music careers, drawing strength from the resilience he embodied.