'Everyone has a right to live': Protesters demand answers in police shooting of Nigerian student
![Afolabi Opaso protest Dozens of protesters took to the streets of downtown Winnipeg on Jan. 27, 2024, calling for answers in the police shooting of 19-year-old Afolabi Stephen Opaso. (Source: Gary Robson/CTV News Winnipeg)](/content/dam/ctvnews/en/images/2024/1/27/afolabi-opaso-protest-1-6745238-1706401354474.jpeg)
Dozens of protesters took to the streets of downtown Winnipeg demanding answers in the police shooting of a 19-year-old Nigerian student.
The crowd of people marched through downtown Saturday afternoon to the Manitoba Legislature where they called for change in police responses to mental health calls.
"This must not happen again. Everyone has a right to live," said Obehi Vera Keyede, the president of the Nigerian Association of Manitoba. "Everyone has rights to call 911."
The protest comes in the wake of 19-year-old Afolabi Stephen Opaso, who died after being shot by Winnipeg police on New Year's Eve.
Opaso, who was from Nigeria, had been studying economics at the University of Manitoba at the time.
Police have said officers were responding to reports of a man acting erratically when they encountered Opaso armed with two knives. However, a lawyer for Opaso's family told CTV News the man was having a mental health episode and said there is no indication Opaso attacked police.
"We are here today not for long speeches, but to stand in solidarity with the Opaso family and the families of all victims of fatal police shootings in our community and our province," Titi Tijani, president of African Communities of Manitoba Inc., said at the protest.
"We are here to stand up for justice and speak out loudly that enough is enough… no more killings of our people. Our community cannot continue to be at the receiving end of these tragic and avoidable lethal shootings by the police."
The protest called for a speedy and transparent investigation into the death, so the family can get answers as to what happened.
The investigation into this case is being handled by Alberta's police watch dog. Manitoba's Independent Investigations Unit handed it off to them after learning one of the officers involved in the shooting is closely related to a Manitoba Justice employee.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6978490.1721989018!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
Canadian Olympic Committee CEO says soccer coach Bev Priestman likely aware of spying
Canadian Olympic Committee chief executive officer David Shoemaker says the head coach of the national women's soccer team was likely aware drones were used to spy on another team's practices in France.
Arson attacks paralyze French high-speed rail network hours before start of Olympics
France's high-speed rail network was hit Friday with widespread and "criminal" acts of vandalism including arson attacks, paralyzing travel to Paris from across the rest of France and Europe only hours before the grand opening ceremony of the Olympics.
DEVELOPING Recent rain, cooler weather limiting spread of wildfires in Jasper National Park
Cool and wet weather is making a difference in Jasper National Park.
Canada to bring home fewest Olympic medals since 2012, according to forecaster
Fewer Canadians are expected to reach the Paris podium than in the previous two Olympic Summer Games, a global data analytics company predicts.
Harris pushes Netanyahu to ease suffering in Gaza: 'I will not be silent'
U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris pressured Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday to help reach a Gaza ceasefire deal that would ease the suffering of Palestinian civilians, striking a tougher tone than President Joe Biden.
Stay inside, filter indoor air amid wildfire smoke, respirologist says
A Calgary respirologist is advising people to regularly check the outdoor air quality and stay inside as smoke from the Jasper wildfires blows into other parts of Alberta and possibly beyond.
Mary-Ellen Turpel-Lafond likely has Indigenous DNA: report
The Law Society of British Columbia says a DNA test shows a former judge and Order of Canada recipient accused of falsely claiming to be Cree "most likely" has Indigenous heritage.
Yukon woman narrowly escapes bear attack, credits hair clip
A woman in Yukon believes her hair clip helped save her during a bear attack.
OPINION Prince Harry: Press intrusion and the family rift explored in new doc
Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, has once again found himself at the centre of media attention following his recent interview as part of 'Tabloids on Trial,' an ITV documentary on phone hacking and tabloid intrusion.