Toronto Police have arrested a 46-year-old Canadian-Nigerian woman, Amaka Sonnberger, following allegations that she made hate-fueled threats against Nigerian ethnic groups.
Sonnberger, who is set to appear in court on Monday, September 2, 2024, allegedly posted online content threatening violence against Yoruba and Benin people.
The arrest took place on Sunday after an investigation by the Toronto Police Hate Crime Unit, prompted by a report received on August 28. According to police, Sonnberger’s social media posts on August 25 included threats to poison individuals belonging to the Yoruba and Benin communities. Sonnberger has been charged with uttering threats and will face legal proceedings at the Ontario Court of Justice.
The Toronto Police Service, in a statement titled “Suspected Hate-Motivated Threat Investigation, Woman Arrested,” confirmed the arrest and involvement of its Hate Crime Unit. The statement read, “The arrest follows a report regarding a threatening incident. Authorities allege that on or around August 25, 2024, Amaka Sonnberger, 46, of Toronto, posted online content threatening the lives of specific members of the Nigerian community.”
The case is being treated as a hate-motivated offence, which could lead to aggravated sentencing if Sonnberger is convicted. Hate crime legislation in Canada allows for stiffer penalties when offences are motivated by bias, prejudice, or hatred. The Toronto Police urged anyone with additional information to come forward.
This arrest comes in response to widespread outrage and demands for action from Nigerian communities and officials, including the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission and the Nigerian House of Representatives. Both bodies had petitioned Canadian authorities to investigate and prosecute Sonnberger, especially after a video surfaced online in which she was heard threatening to poison Yoruba and Benin individuals.
In the video, Sonnberger, speaking in Pidgin English during a TikTok live session, made shocking threats, stating, “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.”
These comments sparked immediate backlash, with prominent Nigerian figures, including Peter Obi and Abubakar Atiku, condemning the threats and calling for swift legal action. They emphasized the importance of unity and condemned any actions that could incite violence or hatred within communities.
The case highlights the growing concern over hate speech and the spread of threatening rhetoric online, particularly against ethnic and cultural groups. As the investigation continues, Canadian authorities are under pressure to ensure that justice is served and to prevent similar incidents from escalating.
