Veteran Nollywood actress and activist Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde has revealed that her children received direct death threats during the 2020 #EndSARS protests, exposing the often-overlooked dangers faced by the families of outspoken public figures in Nigeria.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Rubbin’ Minds on Sunday, the 48-year-old actress said the threats forced her to completely rethink her approach to activism.
I am used to death threats; I have received them many times, Omotola said. 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, who has been at the forefront of humanitarian and advocacy work for decades, described how her activism during #EndSARS put her family in the crosshairs. She spoke with international media, engaged NGOs and embassies, and also took to the streets — all while threats and intimidation escalated.
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 said.
Her revelations raise uncomfortable questions about the risks faced by activists’ families in Nigeria, especially when confronting state authorities or powerful political interests. Omotola said the experience led her to pivot from street activism to focused advocacy, citing the impossibility of controlling her children’s safety as they grew older.
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.
Omotola’s activism spans decades, from grassroots campaigns in Nigeria’s Niger Delta to international work with Amnesty International and the United Nations World Food Programme, and she has faced armed military personnel during past protests
