A touch of pink, the favourite colour of Afolabi Opaso, engulfed Union Station in Winnipeg as a community came together in a touching display of solidarity and grief. Opaso, a 19-year-old University of Manitoba international student from Nigeria, was shot by police on New Year’s Eve while encountering a mental health crisis. His great personality and cheerful spirit were remembered as friends, family, and community members gathered to demand justice for the deceased.
No fewer than a hundred attendees marched in downtown Winnipeg, their demand for justice echoed through the city’s streets. Femi Ajiboye, Opaso’s close friend, was there with them to express the collective sorrow and the extremely great impact of the tragedy on the Nigerian community in Winnipeg. The event was a tribute to Opaso and a clarion call for reform to forestall similar incidents in the future.
Winnipeg police responded to a well-being check at a house where Opaso was seen armed with knives. After the fatal shooting, the Independent Investigation Unit of Manitoba moved the investigation to Alberta’s counterpart, the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team. Uche Nwankwo, a community leader who spoke of the trauma and unanswered questions lingering in the community, emphasized the urgent need for clarity and justice. Amid the uncertainty, the community came together and advocated for improvements in crisis response and mental health support.
Ajiboye talked about the mental health challenges Opaso encountered, underscoring the need for a more compassionate approach to dealing with such incidents. The rally served as a medium to demand police accountability, officer body cameras, and the creation of a civilian-led crisis team. As the Opaso family anticipates visa approval to travel to Winnipeg for funeral arrangements, the hope for legal punishment for the involved officers resonates within the crowd.
The rally at Union Station showed the resilience and unity of the community in the face of tragedy. As their demands for justice echo, the memory of Opaso, and why he has unintentionally become a symbol, keep inspiring a strong pursuit of justice and change.
