Veteran Nollywood actress, Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, has disclosed that her children received death threats during the #EndSARS protests, an ordeal she says significantly changed her approach to activism.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Rubbin’ Minds on Sunday, Omotola said she was used to personal threats but became deeply shaken when the intimidation extended to her family.
“I am used to death threats; I have received them many times. But I have never seen anything like what happened during EndSARS. It was intense. My kids started getting death threats. That was when it became real, and when I realised this was no longer just about me,” she said.
The actress explained that the situation worsened when individuals began searching for her at both her home and workplace, forcing her to prioritise the safety of her children.
“When people started coming to my home and workplace looking for me, I knew it was time to think beyond myself. I had to protect others, especially my children,” Omotola added.
According to her, the experience led her to move away from street protests towards more strategic and targeted advocacy, particularly because her children were becoming more independent.
“I can’t control where they go. I can’t protect them as much. I don’t care for my life, but I do care for them,” she said.
The #EndSARS movement was a decentralised nationwide protest that erupted in October 2020, calling for an end to police brutality, especially abuses linked to the now-disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS). Protesters accused the unit of extrajudicial killings, harassment, extortion and unlawful arrests, particularly targeting young Nigerians.
The protests gained momentum after a viral video allegedly showed SARS operatives killing a young man in Delta State, triggering widespread outrage and demonstrations across major cities.
Omotola was among prominent Nigerians who joined protests at the Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos, one of the symbolic centres of the movement. However, after the October 20, 2020 incident in which security operatives allegedly opened fire on unarmed protesters, she faced backlash over a tweet suggesting that if no one died, the incident should not be sensationalised.
Many Nigerians interpreted the comment as questioning reports of deaths and criticised it as insensitive. Omotola later apologised, clarifying that she did not deny the loss of lives and only meant that the alleged attack itself was a grave crime regardless of casualty figures.
The Lekki Toll Gate shooting became the defining moment of the #EndSARS movement, attracting global attention and condemnation.
In response to the protests, the Federal Government announced the disbandment of SARS and introduced the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) unit. Protesters, however, remained sceptical, demanding broader reforms, including justice for victims, accountability for erring officers, the release of detained protesters, comprehensive police retraining, and improved welfare and salaries for officers.
Elijah Adeyemi
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