In response to the tragic death of Stephen Afolabi Opaso, a 19-year-old Nigerian student at the University of Manitoba, Canada, the office of Mr Sunday Asefon, Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Student Engagement, has issued a statement expressing profound sorrow and outrage.
Stephen Opaso, affectionately known as Zigi among peers, was fatally shot by the Winnipeg Police Service in Manitoba on December 31, 2023.
The incident reportedly occurred during an encounter in which Opaso, allegedly during a mental health crisis, was wielding a knife.
Asefon condemned the killing as vicious, cruel, and heartless, asserting a commitment to engage with the Canadian authorities, including the High Commission of Canada in Nigeria and Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, to ensure a thorough investigation and prevent the matter from being overlooked.
Citing concerns raised by the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Asefon highlighted a perceived racial motivation behind the incident, as Opaso was not carrying a firearm at the time.
He appealed for calm among Nigerian students and pledged to pursue the case diligently until an accurate account of the student’s death is obtained from Canadian authorities.
Asefon also assured that efforts are ongoing to secure appropriate compensation for Opaso’s family.
He urged Nigerian students in Canada to maintain peace, assuring them that his office was committed to ensuring justice prevailed in this tragic circumstance.
