A 19-year-old Nigerian student in Canada identified as Stephen Afolabi Opaso, was shot dead by Canadian police in Manitoba on December 31, 2023.
The death of Opaso, who was shot and killed by the Winnipeg Police Service after receiving a distress call from an apartment suite of an armed male acting erratically has sparked reactions from Nigerians and the diaspora community.
Opaso, fondly called Zigi by his peers, was a student of the University of Manitoba.
Opaso was allegedly experiencing a mental health crisis and was wielding a knife at the time of the encounter, according to eyewitnesses. Police yelled “Drop the knife” before firing 3 shots at the victim eventually leading to his passing.
The Winnipeg Police in a statement on Thursday said, “On December 31, 2023, at approximately 2:22 p.m., the Winnipeg Police Service responded to an apartment suite in the first 100 block of University Crescent for a 911 call regarding a male acting erratically. The caller advised the male may be armed and there were other people in the suite.
“During this encounter, an officer discharged their firearm, striking the male.
“Officers provided immediate medical care and ensured the well-being being of all other parties on scene. Nobody else was injured.
“The male was transported to hospital in critical condition and succumbed to his injuries,” the statement read.
The Chairman, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, on Thursday, mourned Opaso’s death in a condolence message issued by the Director of Media and Public Relations and Protocols, Abdur-Rahman Balogun.
She said “We are in touch with the Nigerian mission in Ottawa who have the assurances of the Canadian authorities that investigations into the unfortunate incident have begun and will be thorough.
“We offer our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Afolabi and pray unto God to allow his gentle and innocent soul to rest in perfect peace.”
Ifunanya Ikueze is an Engineer, Safety Professional, Writer, Investor, Entrepreneur and Educator.
