Nigerian musician Teniola Apata, better known as Teni, has revealed that her father, Simeon Apata, a retired brigadier-general in the Nigerian army, was killed in front of her and her family.
On January 8, 1995, gunmen assassinated the late Brig. Gen. Apata (rtd.) in Lagos.
Teni claimed that the incident took place in their living room when she was only two years old.
She admitted that the incident’s trauma had an impact on her life.
The singer of Uyo Meyo made this statement while appearing as a guest on the most recent episode of the podcast Tea With Tay, which is hosted by actor Temisan Emmanuel Ahwieh, aka Taymesan.
She said, “My father was a disciplinarian. He was a soldier and he owned a school; Apata Memorial High School. He was also a big philanthropist.
“Growing up with my father passing at such a young age, the trauma of losing my father at a young age affected me. You know, him being assassinated in the presence of all of us and all that stuff. I was 2 at the time.
“Him passing away robbed me as a child of having a father figure. It sort of made me have trust issues growing up. Because they [gunmen] came into our house purposely to kill him.”