NiDCOM opens investigation as Canadian police kills 19-year-old Nigerian student
On December 31, 2023, Stephen Afolabi Opaso, a 19-year-old Nigerian international student, known as Zigi, was fatally shot by the Winnipeg Police Service in Manitoba, Canada.
The incident unfolded after a distress call reported an armed male acting erratically in Opaso’s apartment suite.
Opaso, a student at the University of Manitoba, was reportedly experiencing a mental health crisis and wielding a knife during the encounter, as recounted by eyewitnesses.
Police, responding to the 911 call, shouted, “Drop the knife” before discharging three shots, ultimately leading to Opaso’s death.
The Winnipeg Police, in a statement, confirmed the encounter with an armed male, providing limited details.
The statement read, “During this encounter, an officer discharged their firearm, striking the male. Officers provided immediate medical care and ensured the well-being of all other parties on the scene. Nobody else was injured. The male was transported to the hospital in critical condition and succumbed to his injuries.”
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Honourable Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairperson of the Nigerians in the Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), condemned the incident as “wicked” and pledged the commission’s commitment to ensuring justice.
She stated, “We are in touch with the Nigerians mission in Ottawa, who have the assurances of the Canadian authorities that investigations into the unfortunate incident have begun and will be thorough.”
The Nigerian community in Manitoba expressed deep grief and frustration, directing criticism at the Winnipeg Police for their handling of the situation. Emotions ran high among Opaso’s countrymen, with calls for accountability and thorough investigations.
As the aftermath unfolds, the incident sparks a mix of grief and frustration within the Nigerian community, prompting demands for justice and accountability in Opaso’s tragic death.
