Calls for justice, police transparency mount at Winnipeg rally for Afolabi Opaso
'It's going to be really tough to survive this year without him,' says Femi Ajiboye
Femi Ajiboye proudly wore pink — his best friend's favourite colour — to Union Station.
Ajiboye was among dozens of people who gathered Saturday at the Winnipeg railway station, the starting point for a rally in support of Afolabi Opaso, a 19-year-old international student at the University of Manitoba who was fatally shot by police on New Year's Eve.
Many supporters held up signs pleading for justice for Opaso.
Known by his friends as Zigi Pink, Opaso was "always dancing, always happy," Ajiboye told CBC News.
"Any time I seen him — I come to his house or he comes to my house — he was … always happy to be around," he said.
Ajiboye didn't find out about Opaso's death until five days later. He said it broke his heart knowing his former roommate had been killed.
"It has affected me a lot because personally I've never lost someone I know, or that I've been this close to," Ajiboye said. "He's going to be missed."
"It's going to be really tough to survive this year without him."
Despite the pain he's going through, Ajiboye was appreciative of the support for Opaso on Saturday, as well as a vigil for him on Jan. 12.
"It shows that there is a community here in Canada.… They're out to support him and they love [him]," Ajiboye said.
Yemilo Audu also attended the rally, which worked its way west down Broadway Avenue before finishing on the steps of the Manitoba Legislature.
She didn't know Opaso, but knew he was a member of Winnipeg's Nigerian community. She said his death has been difficult for the community to deal with.
"It does open our eyes, especially since it's something that has hit us closer than usual. But it's definitely a time for grief for all of us," Audu said. "There's definitely a challenge in how we move forward as a community, but I think at the very least, all of us are united in the front of just pain, sadness and grief."
WATCH | Supporters gather, rally in support of 19-year-old killed by police:
Winnipeg police responded to a well-being call inside an apartment building at 77 University Cres. on Dec. 31.
Officers entered a suite and saw Opaso armed with two knives, and two others with him. Opaso was shot by police and later died of his injuries. He had been dealing with mental health issues, friends and family have previously said.
The Independent Investigation Unit of Manitoba has since passed over the investigation of Opaso's death to its counterpart in Alberta.
'Lot of questions'
Uche Nwankwo said the Nigerian community is still seeking answers to questions surrounding Opaso's death.
Nwankwo is the co-ordinator for Africans in Winnipeg South, an organization concerned with the interest of all the Africans living in the city's south side. He's also a senator for the University of Manitoba Graduate Students' Association.
He said he was "really devastated" when he first heard Opaso was shot and killed by police, and has been heavily involved in speaking with his parents, fellow international students and members of the Nigerian community.
"The first people that knew about this, they were traumatized and they are heartbroken — and also with our community members also who are heartbroken, who are frustrated, who are angry, who are devastated because there's a lot of questions we're trying to ask today that have not been answered," Nwankwo said.
While seeking answers, he's also been trying to calm people down as the public awaits answers on what led to Opaso's death. Nwankwo said that has been especially difficult among international students, including those who knew Opaso.
"Mostly international students who are afraid as well, who don't know how to react or to respond, especially some of them also coming from backgrounds where police brutality is the norm. And so they are skeptical; they are afraid; they are unsure how to handle this and what to say and what not to say," Nwankwo said.
"They shouldn't be afraid. They should not think that their life is in danger … and they shouldn't think that this is the norm."
He understands police are sometimes called to situations in which they have to deal with individuals who have mental health issues, like Opaso did.
"[Opaso] was having mental health problems and he needed help — not to be killed," Nwankwo said.
Ajiboye said he spoke with Opaso about the mental health challenges he was dealing with. He often reminded his friend to try to avoid situations where he was alone or surrounded by negative energy.
Now Ajiboye is left grieving for his friend, calling for justice. He said he wants the officers to answer for what they did and be punished lawfully.
"That's the only way I can see justice."
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With files from Gavin Alexlrod