The Toronto Police Service has arrested the Canada-based Nigerian woman, Amaka Patience Sunnberger for threatening to poison the Yoruba and Benin people in the North American country.
The Toronto Police announced Sunnberger’s arrest in a statement on its official website on Monday morning, adding that she was arrested on Sunday, September 1, 2024.
According to the statement, Sunnberger was arrested for inciting violence and genocide against Yoruba and Benin people following her online content on or about August 25, threatening death to specific members of the Nigerian community.
“The Toronto Police Service is making the public aware of an arrest made in a suspected hate-motivated threatening investigation,” the statement read.
“On Wednesday, August 28, 2024, the Toronto Police received a call for a threatening incident.
“It is alleged that: the accused posted online content on or about August 25, 2024, threatening death to specific members of the Nigerian community.
“On Sunday, September 1, 2024, Toronto Police arrested Amaka Sonnberger, 46, of Toronto. She has been charged with uttering threats.
“She is scheduled to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice, 2201 Finch Avenue West on Monday, September 2nd, 2024, at 10:00am in courtroom 107.
“This investigation is being treated as a suspected hate-motivated offence.
“When suspected hate-motivated offences are reported to police, the investigation could be led by a Divisional investigator with the support of the Hate Crime Unit (HCU), or in some cases, will be investigated exclusively by the HCU.
“If it is alleged a criminal offence was committed (such as assault or mischief) and it is believed to have been motivated by bias, prejudice or hate, the officer-in-charge may consult with the Crown. If a person is charged and convicted of the offence, the Judge will take into consideration hate as an aggravating factor when imposing a sentence.
“Wilful promotion of hatred and advocating genocide are hate propaganda (hate speech) offences which require the Attorney General’s consent to lay charges. These charges are often laid at a later time.”
The Nigerian had earlier boasted that she could not be deported. Sunnberger said this while dismissing claims that she faced the possibility of arrest or deportation from Canada.
She issued the statement after the Nigerian House of Representatives called on the Canadian government to prosecute her for inciting violence and genocide against Yoruba and Benin people.
She boasted that she could not be deported in a video which went viral last Thursday, saying that her Canadian citizenship gives her protection.
Sunnberger also said that Canada’s legal system is different from Nigeria’s, where arrests can be made by security operatives without questioning.
“Somebody just send me message, say them arrest me, say them wan deport me, with passport? I be Canada pikin. See am now, I dey house, why I go dey lie?,” she said.
The woman was seen in a viral video on X threatening to take poisonous substances to her place of work and poison any Yoruba or Benin person she came across.
“Record me very well; it’s time to start poisoning the Yoruba and the Benin. Put poison for all una food for work. Put poison for una water, make una dey kpai one by one,” she said in what appeared to be a virtual meeting on TikTok.
“I want make Ndi Igbo get that heart of wickedness. Una too dey quiet,” the woman said, addressing other participants.
“Enough is enough! If you have any means of kpaing them, kpai them commot for road.”
