It Became Real When My Kids Were Threatened’ — Omotola Opens Up on EndSARS Trauma

Veteran Nollywood actress Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde has disclosed that her children received death threats during the #EndSARS protests, an ordeal she says forced her to rethink how she engages in activism.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Rubbin’ Minds on Sunday, Omotola said she had long been accustomed to threats directed at her personally, but the situation changed dramatically 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,” she said.
The actress revealed that the situation escalated further when unknown individuals began searching for her at both her home and workplace, raising serious concerns about her family’s safety.
“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.
Omotola explained that the experience led her to shift away from street protests to more strategic and targeted advocacy, noting that her children’s growing independence limited her ability to protect them.
“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, which erupted in October 2020, was a decentralised nationwide protest against police brutality, particularly abuses linked to the now-disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS). The protests gained momentum after a viral video allegedly showed SARS operatives killing a young man in Delta State, sparking widespread outrage among young Nigerians.
Omotola was among public figures who joined demonstrations 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, the actress faced public backlash over a tweet that many interpreted as questioning reports of deaths at the scene.
She later issued a public apology, clarifying that she did not dispute the loss of life and stressing that the alleged attack itself constituted a grave crime regardless of casualty figures.
The Lekki Toll Gate incident became the defining moment of the #EndSARS protests, drawing international attention and condemnation.
In response to the demonstrations, the Federal Government announced the disbandment of SARS and unveiled a new Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) unit. Protesters, however, remained sceptical, continuing to demand justice for victims, accountability for offending officers, comprehensive police reforms, and improved welfare for security personnel.