Abike Dabiri-Erewa, chairperson of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), has assured that investigations into the death of Afolabi Stephen, a 19-year-old Nigerian student in Canada, gunned by the country’s police, will be thorough.
Dabiri-Erewa spoke in a statement issued by Abdur-Rahman Balogun, NiDCOM’s director of media, public relations and protocols.
Stephen was killed on December 31, 2023 after police responded to a “911 call regarding a male acting erratically” from an apartment suite in the first 100 block of University Crescent in Manitoba, according to authorities.
“Upon police arrival, they were confronted by an armed male. During this encounter, an officer discharged their firearm, striking the male. Officers provided immediate medical care and ensured the wellbeing of all other parties on scene. Nobody else was injured,” a statement by the police said.
The police added that “The Independent Investigation Unit of Manitoba (IIU) has been notified and has assumed responsibility for the investigation”.
Reacting to the situation, Dabiri-Erewa described the killing as wicked.
“We are in touch with the Nigerians mission in Ottawa who have the assurances of the Canadian authorities that investigations into the unfortunate incident has begun and will be thorough,” she added.
The NiDCOM chairperson offered condolences to Stephen’s family and friends, and offered a prayer to God for his soul.