“Seeing my dad murdered in front of me changed who I am” — Teni

Nigerian artiste popularly known as Teni or as Teniola Apata, opens up about the murder of her father, retired Army Brigadier-General Simeon Apata who she revealed was assassinated in front of her when she was 2-years of age.

Speaking on the horror of losing her father on January 8, 1995 in Lagos to armed gunmen who broke into their home, Teni opens up on dealing with the trauma growing up.

The singer revealed this while appearing as a guest on the Tea with Tay podcast hosted by actor Taymesan, otherwise known as Temisan Emmanuel Ahwieh.

Recounting the event of the assassination and how it forever shaped her life, the Nigerian artiste told Taymesan;

“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.”