The Toronto Police Service has announced the arrest of a Canadian woman, Amaka Sonnberger, 46, of Toronto, accused of making hate-motivated threats against members of the Nigerian community in the country.
The arrest was made public in a statement dated September 1, 2024, following an investigation into a suspected hate crime.
The police statement reads, “The Toronto Police Service is making the public aware of an arrest made in a suspected hate-motivated threatening investigation.” The incident came to light on Wednesday, August 28, 2024, when Toronto Police received a report of a threatening incident.
According to the police, Sonnberger allegedly posted online a content on or about August 25, 2024, threatening death to specific members of the Nigerian community. In response to the threats, Sonnberger was arrested on Sunday, September 1, 2024. She has been charged with uttering threats and is scheduled to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice, located at 2201 Finch Avenue West, on Monday, September 2, 2024, at 10:00 am in courtroom 107.
The Toronto Police Service is treating the investigation 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,” the statement continued.
The police further elaborated on the procedure for handling hate-motivated offences: “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.”
The case has sparked significant controversy, particularly after a video emerged earlier in the week showing Sonnberger making inflammatory remarks during a virtual meeting on TikTok. In the video, she threatened to harm any Yoruba or Benin individuals she encountered, a statement that quickly ignited widespread outrage.
In response to the video, the Nigerian House of Representatives took immediate action, formally requesting that the Canadian government investigate and prosecute Sonnberger. The lawmakers cited her comments as a violation of both international and Canadian laws against incitement to violence and hate speech.
In their communication with Canadian authorities, the Nigerian House of Representatives emphasised the severity of Sonnberger’s remarks, describing them as “dangerous and provocative” and urging for appropriate legal measures to be taken against her.
Despite the backlash, Sonnberger remained defiant, boasting in another video that her Canadian citizenship protects her from legal consequences. “Canada no be Nigeria, you no fit arrest person anyhow,” she stated, further fueling the controversy surrounding her remarks.
The Toronto Police have urged anyone with additional information regarding this incident to contact them at 416-808-3500 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477) or via www.222tips.com. The investigation is ongoing, and the police have not ruled out additional charges, including hate propaganda offences such as the wilful promotion of hatred or advocating genocide, which require the Attorney General’s consent to proceed.
