Nigerian Afro House queen Niniola Apata has opened up about the tragic loss of her father, retired Brigadier-General Simeon Apata, who was assassinated in their Lagos home in 1995.

In a candid interview with Jay On Air, Niniola revealed that she witnessed the horrifying incident as a child and has lived with its emotional scars ever since.

“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.

The “Ginger Me” crooner added that her young age made it even harder to process the tragedy:

“I was very young when it happened. I don’t remember my exact age then but it wasn’t a good memory.”

Her sister, Teniola Apata (Teni), has also previously spoken about the traumatic experience, recalling that she was just two years old when their father was killed.

Despite the tragedy, both sisters have risen to become leading voices in Nigerian music, turning pain into artistry.