Friends of 19-year-old killed by Winnipeg police call for mental health support for international students

Voices were raised in song and sadness last night at the University of Manitoba where a small chapel overflowed with people paying their last respects to Afolabi Stephen Opaso, a19-year-old student who was fatally shot by police on New Years Eve.

A family spokesperson says Opaso, who was an international student at the university, was having a mental health crisis when police were called.

During the Friday night service, some friends of Opaso called for more mental health supports for students. They said Opaso was a happy, friendly person but struggled under the pressures of being far from home.

Nigerian community, friends call for justice after police kill international student

9 months ago

Duration 1:59

Friends of Afolabi Stephen Opaso gathered at a chapel at the University of Manitoba Friday night to celebrate his life and express anger over his death. The international student from Nigeria was studying at the University of Manitoba and was fatally shot by Winnipeg police on Dec. 31, 2023.

Nathan Otekalu-Aje said Opaso came to live with him for a few months, shortly after arriving from Nigeria,because he was finding it hard toafford a place to live on his own.

He said his friend only wished good for people.

"He was just a bundle of joy, happiness always spreading happiness and positivity," he said.

"He's love, he'sfamily so for this to happen, this is so crazy. It's still hard to process."

Opaso had only been in Canada for about a year before his death, Otekalu-Aje said.

He said he wants his friend to be remembered as a joyful soul.

"I want them to know he only meant good for everybody and he wasn't trying to be evil or be a criminal," Otekalu-Aje said.

"All he needed was help."

Hamza Liman, another friend,said Opaso had "so much potential" but had a hard time as an international student.

"No international student is going to come here and tell you everything is easy."

Liman said Opaso's loved ones are now left searching for answers.

"We need justice, we need everyone to know that what happened to him wasn't right."

'Alife cut short'

Opaso's family, who are still in Nigeria, were unable to attendFriday's vigil.

But their grief was still represented in the form of an emotional statement read by their lawyer Jean-Ren Dominque Kwilu.

"The cruel circumstances of his departure weigh heavily on us as we navigate the desolation of a life cut short in the throes of a profound struggle," Kwilu said.

"Afolabi possessed a radiant future, teaming with aspirations and dreams that now linger in the void of his absence."

Outside the vigil, Kwilu said Opaso's family is struggling with the loss but is comforted by the outpouring of support.

"It was really good for them to see that this tragic incident doesn't leave anyone indifferent," he said.

The family is currently in the midst of making funeral arrangements and trying to obtain visas to come to Canada, Kwilu said.

Police had gone to an apartment suite on University Crescent after a report was made about a man who was behaving erratically and was possibly armed, the Winnipeg Police Service previously said.

When officers arrived, they found Opaso armed with two knives and shot him, Winnipeg police Chief Danny Smyth said at a Jan. 1 news conference. There were two other people in the suite at the time.

The Independent Investigation Unit of Manitoba, which probes serious incidents involving police, has asked the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team to assume responsibility for the investigation into Opaso's death to avoid "any perceived conflict of interest."

IIU civilian director Roxanne Gagn recommended an out-of-province agency take over to avoid any potential perceived conflict of interest, because a Manitoba Justice employee is a "close relative" of an officer involved in the shooting.