Manny Ita –
Veteran Nollywood actress and filmmaker Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde has disclosed that the 2020 #EndSARS protests marked a permanent turning point in her approach to activism, citing “intense” death threats directed at her children as the primary reason for her retreat from street demonstrations. Speaking as a guest on Rubbin’ Minds on Channels Television this Sunday, the screen icon revealed that while she has long been accustomed to personal intimidation throughout her three-decade career, the level of hostility during the anti-police brutality movement reached an unprecedented and “weird” peak. “I am used to death threats; I have received them many times,” the actress stated during the interview. “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 realized this was no longer just about me.”
The actress, who was actively involved in the 2020 movement both through physical presence at the Lekki Toll Gate and international advocacy with organizations like CNN and various embassies, explained that the situation escalated beyond digital harassment. According to Jalade-Ekeinde, unidentified individuals began physically appearing at her residence and place of business in search of her, creating a security crisis for her household. “When people started coming physically to my home and place of work to look for me, I knew I had to worry about other people and not just myself,” she remarked. She further noted that as her children have grown older and attained more independence, she can no longer guarantee their safety in the same way she could when they were younger. “I can’t control where they go. I can’t protect them as much, and I don’t want my children to become victims of choices that I have made,” she added, clarifying that while she remains indifferent to threats against her own life, the vulnerability of her family necessitated a shift in tactics.
As a result of these experiences, the actress confirmed that she has moved away from “physical activism” in favor of more targeted, behind-the-scenes advocacy. She emphasized that this change is a strategic “re-evaluation” rather than a total abandonment of her humanitarian roots. “It was the #EndSARS experience that made it clear that I needed to restrategise. Instead of physical activism, I moved fully into advocacy,” she said. During the same broadcast, Omotola also addressed the broader political landscape in Nigeria, calling for a new generation of “selfless leaders” who are willing to put national interests above personal safety. Reflecting on the future of the country, she insisted that Nigeria’s progress is hindered not by its citizens, but by a lack of courageous leadership at the top, stating, “Until we find leaders in Nigeria who are ready to die for this country, we haven’t started.”
