The House of Representatives’ Committee on Diaspora Matters has formally requested the Canadian government to prosecute a Canada-based woman, Amaka Patience Sunnberger, for alleged hate speech and inciting violence against Nigerians.
The call followed a viral TikTok video in which Sunnberger threatened to poison certain categories of Nigerians residing in Canada.
The request for Sunnberger’s prosecution is detailed in a letter dated August 28, 2024, and jointly signed by the Chairman of the Committee Tochukwu Okere, and Chairman of the Nigeria-Canada Parliamentary Friendship Group, Biodun Omoleye.
The letter, addressed to the Canada’s High Commissioner to Nigeria, James Christoff, expressed serious concern over Sunnberger’s inflammatory remarks, which have been perceived as a direct threat to the safety of Nigerians living in Canada.
In the controversial video, Sunnberger said, “Record me, it’s time to start poisoning the meals of the Yorubas and Benin people. Poison their food and drinks at work so they can begin to die one by one.”
This statement has been interpreted as a call for violence against specific ethnic groups within the Nigerian community in Canada.
“On behalf of the Nigeria-Canada Parliamentary Friendship Group, we are writing to express our deep concern regarding the actions of Ms. Amaka Patience Sunnberger, a Nigerian citizen residing in Canada,” the letter reads.
The lawmakers emphasised that Sunnberger’s statements constitute a significant threat to the lives of Nigerians, both in Canada and potentially back home.
The letter further added, “Ms. Sunnberger has recently been recorded making inflammatory statements that incite violence against the Yoruba and Edo ethnic groups in Nigeria, including advocating for the poisoning of food and water supplies to achieve their mass genocide.”
The legislators pointed out that such incitement to violence is a violation of both international and Canadian laws prohibiting national, racial, or religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility, or violence. “Such rhetoric is dangerous and has the potential to incite real-world violence, both in Nigeria and within the Nigerian diaspora,” the lawmakers warned.
In light of these concerns, the committee has called for an “immediate and thorough investigation” into Sunnberger’s actions by the Canadian law enforcement and relevant authorities.
They urged that Sunnberger be prosecuted under the appropriate sections of the Criminal Code of Canada to hold her accountable for her incitement to genocide and hate speech.
The letter also calls for a public condemnation from the Canadian government of Sunnberger’s actions, “to reaffirm Canada’s commitment to combatting hate speech, violence, and genocide.”
Furthermore, the lawmakers urged Canadian authorities to collaborate with their Nigerian counterparts to prevent any potential escalation of violence and to ensure that justice is served.
“Canada and Nigeria share a strong bilateral relationship founded on mutual respect for human rights and the rule of law,” the lawmakers noted, adding that that, “The actions of Ms. Sunnberger threaten to undermine these values. We trust that you will take all necessary steps to address this issue in accordance with Canadian and international law.”
The incident has drawn widespread attention, with the Chairperson of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa revealing Sunnberger’s identity on her X handle on Wednesday.
