Renowned Nollywood actress and producer, Kafila Doyin Aggrey Lawal, has opened up about her harrowing life experiences, detailing a series of tragic events that shaped her journey.
In an emotional revelation in a YouTube Talk to B, she recounted how assassins gunned down her father and younger sister before tragedy struck again two years later when she lost another sister, Laide. to sickle cell complications.
Doyin, who hails from a family of six, described her upbringing as beautiful until April 9, 1995, when her world turned upside down.
Her elder sister was celebrating her birthday, and her younger sister, who was a boarding school student at Adeola Odutola College, sneaked out to attend the party.
Unknown to them, assassins had targeted their home, intending to kill someone else but mistakenly attacking their family.
“That night, around 1 am, my uncle went to close the gate when suddenly, gunshots rang out,” she recalled. “My father, a retired army officer, came out of his room and was shot in the head right in front of me. He landed on my hands. Before I could process what was happening, my younger sister, who had come home from school, was also shot in the head. My mother collapsed upon witnessing the scene.”
She narrated, the assailants ransacked the house but took nothing. They also kidnapped two people, who were later released. The family rushed the victims to a hospital, but both Doyin’s father and younger sister were pronounced dead. “We buried them the same day, side by side,” she said, adding that her younger brother had to hide on a septic tank to escape the attack.
According to her, the trauma of the incident left the family shattered and two years later, Doyin’s elder sister, a sickle cell patient, also passed away.
Doyin stated, “My mother suffered greatly, and at a point, she had to leave Lagos. We stayed with a woman in Otedola Estate, but she mistreated us. My sickle cell sister was forced to wash clothes in the rain and was slapped when she stopped. She later died at LUTH while I was in Ogun State University.”
The series of misfortunes left Doyin struggling with mental health issues, fear of death, and an inability to sleep. She turned to alcohol as a coping mechanism, which led to public scrutiny and judgment. “People see me drinking and smoking, but they don’t know the pain behind it. Every day, I remember my family and pray for them,” she said.
Despite the hardships, Doyin has learned valuable lessons. “People don’t truly appreciate you until you are relevant. Fake love surrounds success, but pure love is rare. Betrayal is common, and people expect sacrifices but are unwilling to make them for you.”
Her challenges continued last year when she lost her car, which had been imported from abroad, to a fire. Additionally, her career suffered a downturn. However, she remains steadfast in her resolve to inspire others. “My advice to the youth is simple—stay away from crime and rituals. Do what is right and remain steadfast in your journey.”
Doyin eventually quit drinking and smoking in honor of her late mother after a Muslim cleric counseled her. She now hopes that by sharing her story, others will find the strength to overcome their struggles and remain resilient in the face of adversity.
