Canadian law enforcement has arrested Amaka Sonnberger, a 46-year-old Nigerian woman based in Canada, for allegedly threatening to poison individuals of Yoruba and Benin descent living in the country. The Toronto Police Service confirmed her arrest on Sunday and revealed that she has been charged with uttering threats, a serious criminal offence. Ms Sonnberger is scheduled to appear in court on September 2, 2024, at the Ontario Court of Justice.
The investigation into Ms. Sonnberger’s actions is being treated as a potential hate-motivated offence. Toronto Police indicated that such cases may be handled by divisional investigators with the support of the Hate Crime Unit (HCU) or maybe exclusively managed by the HCU depending on the circumstances. When a crime is suspected to be driven by bias, prejudice, or hate, the Crown may be consulted to determine the severity of the charges. If convicted, hate can be considered an aggravating factor in sentencing, leading to harsher penalties.
The police statement also mentioned that offences involving the willful promotion of hatred or advocating genocide, categorized as hate propaganda, require the Attorney General’s consent for charges to be filed. These serious charges may often be brought forward later in the legal process.
This incident gained significant attention after Abike Dabiri, Chairperson of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), publicly identified Ms. Sonnberger following the circulation of a video on social media where she allegedly made the threats. In the video, which reportedly took place during a virtual meeting on TikTok, Ms. Sonnberger can be heard saying, “Record me very well; it’s time to start poisoning the Yoruba and the Benin. Put poison in all una food for work. Put poison for una water, make una dey kpai one by one.”
The video sparked outrage and concern within the Nigerian community in Canada and beyond, leading to swift action by the authorities. Toronto Police have urged anyone with additional information related to this case to come forward and assist with the investigation.
This development underscores the seriousness with which Canadian law enforcement approaches hate-motivated offenses, particularly those that target specific ethnic or cultural groups. As the legal process unfolds, the case will likely be closely monitored by both the Nigerian community and broader human rights organizations, highlighting the importance of addressing hate speech and threats in a multicultural society like Canada.
Madukwe B. Nwabuisi is an accomplished journalist renown for his fearless reporting style and extensive expertise in the field. He is an investigative journalist, who has established himself as a kamikaze reporter.
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