Nigerian singer Timaya has shared his thoughts on the tragic Odi massacre, which took place in his hometown of Bayelsa in 1999, and its lasting impact on his life.

During a recent interview, the artist expressed that the assault on the Ijaw community by the Nigerian Army was more than just a piece of news to him — it was a deeply personal event.

“It was part of me,” he said.

His mother ran a bakery in Odi at the time and was a major supplier across surrounding villages before everything was reduced to rubble.

Timaya recounted that the military incursion, believed to be sanctioned by the government, resulted in deaths, property destruction, and a lasting scar on the community of Bayelsa that has yet to fade.

“It’s very touching because we lost lives, a lot of things, and history,” he shared emotionally.

“You know when the government just says, ‘go and shoot these people down’?”

Timaya later turned his pain into protest through music. In 2007, he released the explosive hit track “Dem Mama”, a song that boldly narrated the Odi massacre in raw detail.

“I told the story, how they sent the military to burn down the village,” he said. “I narrated my story and it helped me to get an impact.”

In recognition of his bold voice and bravery, Timaya was later honoured with the title “Egberi Papa 1 of Bayelsa” — meaning mouthpiece of the people.

A title well deserved.