Veteran Nollywood actress Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde has revealed that her children received death threats during the #EndSARS protests, an experience she says fundamentally changed her approach to activism.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Rubbin’ Minds on Sunday, Omotola said she was accustomed to personal threats but was deeply shaken when the intimidation extended to her family.
“I am used to death threats; I have received them many times,” she said. “But I had never seen anything like what happened during EndSARS. It was intense. My kids started getting death threats. That was when it became real, and I realised it was no longer just about me.”
She said the situation escalated when individuals began showing up at her home and workplace looking for her, forcing her to reassess her safety and that of her children.
“When people started coming to my home and workplace searching for me, I knew it was time to think beyond myself. I had to protect others, especially my children,” she said.
According to Omotola, the experience prompted a shift away from street protests toward more strategic and targeted forms of advocacy, particularly as her children grew older and 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 added.
#EndSARS was a decentralised social movement that erupted across Nigeria in October 2020, calling for an end to police brutality, particularly abuses linked to the now-disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS). Protesters accused the unit of extrajudicial killings, harassment, extortion, and unlawful arrests, especially targeting young Nigerians.
The protests gained momentum after a viral video allegedly showed SARS operatives killing a young man in Delta State, triggering nationwide outrage and sustained demonstrations in major cities.
Omotola was among public figures who joined protests at the Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos, one of the movement’s symbolic centres. However, following the events of October 20, 2020—when security operatives allegedly opened fire on unarmed protesters at the toll gate—the actress faced public backlash over a tweet in which she suggested that if no one died, the incident should not be sensationalised, while noting that it did not diminish the seriousness of the alleged attack.
Many Nigerians interpreted the comment as questioning reports of fatalities and criticised it as insensitive. Omotola later apologised, clarifying that she did not dispute the loss of life and that her intention was to emphasise that the alleged shooting itself constituted a grave crime, regardless of casualty figures.
The Lekki Toll Gate shooting became the defining moment of the #EndSARS movement, drawing international attention and condemnation.
In the aftermath of the protests, the Federal Government announced the disbandment of SARS and unveiled a new Special Weapons and Tactics unit. Protesters, however, remained sceptical, insisting on broader reforms, including justice for victims, accountability for erring officers, the release of detained protesters, comprehensive police retraining, and improved welfare and remuneration for officers.
