The children of veteran Juju and Highlife singer Iyun Janet Ajilore, popularly known as Saint Janet, have revealed that she complained of chest pain and struggled to breathe shortly before her death at a hospital.
According to The Punch, the singer’s children disclosed the details during an interview with Alore TV, saying their mother had shown no obvious sign of illness during a performance the night before her death.
Her daughter, Omowunmi, said Saint Janet performed at a show in Sango, Ogun State, and returned home after the overnight event without any indication that she was unwell.
“She performed the previous night. People even celebrated her with applause. We did not suspect anything,” she said.
Singer complained of chest pain
Omowunmi said her mother later went to the market and returned home around 6pm before insisting on preparing her own meal.
She became concerned after noticing the singer holding her chest and experiencing changes in her breathing.
“I later noticed she was holding her chest. She said she felt like something wanted to drop off her chest. Her breathing was no longer regular,” Omowunmi said.
Saint Janet subsequently asked to be taken to hospital.
“It was my uncle and my three other siblings that took her to the hospital. They said when they got to the hospital, it was not up to 10 minutes that she was admitted and was given oxygen,” she added.
Her son, Orinayo, said medical personnel attended to the singer immediately after she arrived but she later lost her pulse.
“I was told that she was having difficulty in breathing. We took her to the hospital, and she was being attended to immediately. It was when they were looking for pulse that she gave up,” he said.
Another daughter, Fola, said the family had not considered Saint Janet seriously ill before the incident.
“She complained of chest pain. She was not sick. They said she went to the market to buy foodstuff. I also saw the soup she was preparing. They came to call me that she was dead,” she said.
Manager recalls final performance
Saint Janet’s manager also said the singer appeared healthy during her last performance in Sango.
“We went for a show at Sango. After performing, she went back to sit among the audience, and she spoke with the organiser. She sang well and did not show any sign of sickness,” he said.
He added that the singer called him on the day she died and told him she was preparing soup and would contact him again.
The family has since established a committee to coordinate her burial arrangements.
A nine-day period of prayers and thanksgiving has begun, while the funeral has been scheduled for August 25 and 26.
Saint Janet’s death was earlier announced by publisher and socialite Otunba Femi Davies, who described her as a popular Juju and Highlife musician known for her vibrant performances and energetic stage presence.
The family has not announced an official medical cause of death.
