Veteran Nollywood actress, Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, has opened up about the harrowing experiences her family endured during the 2020 #EndSARS protests, disclosing that her children were targeted with death threats.
Speaking during an appearance on Channels Television’s Rubbin’ Minds on Sunday, the screen icon shared that the threats against her children marked a turning point in her approach to activism, forcing her to prioritize their safety over public demonstrations.
While the actress noted that she had grown accustomed to receiving personal threats over the years due to her vocal stance on social issues, she admitted that the aggression directed at her family during the protests left her shaken.
“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,” Omotola said.
She further revealed that the intimidation escalated beyond online harassment, with individuals showing up at her home and workplace in search of her.
“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,” she added.
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Explaining her subsequent withdrawal from street protests, Omotola stated that the vulnerability of her children, who were becoming more independent, made her reconsider her methods.
“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 emphasized, noting that she now focuses on more strategic and targeted advocacy rather than frontline agitation.
The #EndSARS movement, which erupted in October 2020, saw thousands of Nigerians take to the streets to demand an end to police brutality and the disbandment of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).
Omotola was among the celebrities who joined demonstrators at the Lekki Toll Gate, a focal point of the protests.
However, following the controversial events of October 20, 2020, the actress faced significant backlash on social media for a tweet that some interpreted as insensitive regarding the reported casualties at the toll gate.
She later apologized, clarifying that her intention was to highlight the gravity of the attack itself, regardless of the death toll.
Since the protests, the actress has largely relocated to the United States, where she continues her career in the entertainment industry.
