- Senior Special Assistant Sunday Asefon calls for a thorough investigation into the killing of Nigerian student Stephen Afolabi Opaso in Canada
- Asefon urges the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Nigerians in Diaspora Commission to prevent the incident from being overlooked
The call for justice echoes as Sunday Asefon, Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Students Engagement, urges an investigation into the tragic killing of 19-year-old Nigerian student Stephen Afolabi Opaso at the University of Manitoba, Canada.
Winnipeg Police Service in Manitoba, Canada, took the life of Opaso on December 31, 2023, prompting Asefon to condemn the incident as barbaric and heartless. In a statement issued on Saturday, Asefon called upon the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Chairperson of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission to ensure transparency and prevent the incident from being overlooked.
Asefon expressed the prevailing public sentiment that the killing may be racially motivated, emphasizing that the victim was unarmed during the incident. He suggested a potential differential response by the police based on the victim’s race, emphasizing the need for a thorough inquiry.
“The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Chairperson of NIDCOM should ensure that the incident is not swept under the carpet,” Asefon insisted.
Addressing the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Asefon called for calm, promising diligent pursuit of the case until Canadian authorities provide a truthful account of the student’s death. Asefon warned of potential diplomatic tensions, echoing NANS’ earlier threat to close the Canadian embassy in Nigeria within three working days if the Federal Government fails to act.
In solidarity with the President’s Senior Special Assistant, human rights lawyer Tolu Babaleye joined the chorus for justice. Babaleye criticized the excessive force used by the Canadian police, stating that the threat posed by the student did not warrant such a response. Babaleye argued that, even if armed with a knife, alternative methods of disarming the student should have been explored.
Babaleye acknowledged the diplomatic implications of the incident, urging the Federal Government to ensure a just resolution. He emphasized the need for a careful approach, considering the strong relationship between Nigeria and Canada, a nation known for opening its doors to Nigerian youths.
As demands for justice escalate, the tragic killing of Stephen Afolabi Opaso underscores the importance of a thorough investigation, transparency, and diplomatic finesse in handling this distressing situation.