Nearly a year after the fatal shooting of international student Afolabi Opaso by Winnipeg police, his family continues to grapple with unanswered questions and an unresolved quest for closure. On December 31, 2023, the 19-year-old succumbed to wounds sustained during an encounter with police, called to his apartment near the University of Manitoba for a welfare check. The police reported he was armed, leading to the deployment of lethal force.
The Opaso family has since been enveloped in grief and uncertainty, sparking protests in Winnipeg demanding accountability. Initially managed by the Independent Investigation Unit, the case shifted to the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team to circumvent conflicts of interest. Despite an assurance in March of an impending release of an autopsy report, this critical document remains withheld, delaying family efforts to seek judicial redress for expenses incurred from the tragedy.
As December comes to a close, their frustration mounts. Benjamin Nkana Bassi, a family attorney, underscores the systemic failures highlighted by the ongoing delays, stressing the stagnation in addressing potential flaws within the policing and justice systems. Yemisi Opaso, Afolabi’s sister, echoes this frustration, indicating they have been informed of no new case developments since March.
Jean-RenĂ© Dominique Kwilu, another family lawyer, emphasizes the family’s need for clarity on the incident’s full narrative to achieve closure. As communications with investigators stagnate, the family continues to demand transparency and accountability in their pursuit of justice.
