The Toronto Police Service has arrested a Nigerian woman residing in Canada, Amaka Sonnberger, following threats she made to poison Nigerians of Yoruba and Benin descent.
The 46-year-old, who is based in Ontario, Canada, recently appeared in a viral TikTok video where she declared her intention to carry out mass killings of Yoruba and Benin people in Canada by contaminating their food and water.
In the video, she stated, “It is time to start poisoning the Yorubas and the Benin. Put poison in all your foods at work. Put poison in all your water so that you all will begin dying one after the other.
“You all will not die one day. You will start falling sick for a long time. I will put Otapiapia (rat poison) inside your waters and foods. You people will never recover from the poison.”
Following reports of Sonnberger’s threats on Wednesday, 28 August 2024, the Toronto Police swiftly intervened, resulting in her arrest on Sunday, 1 September 2024.
In an official statement released on Monday, the Toronto Police announced via their X account that Sonnberger had been charged with uttering threats. She is due to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice on Monday, 2 September 2024.
The full statement reads: “The Toronto Police Service is making the public aware of an arrest made in a suspected hate-motivated threatening investigation.
“On Wednesday, August 28, 2024 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 10:00 am in courtroom 107.
“This investigation is being treated as a suspected hate-motivated offence.
“Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-3500, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477), or at www.222tips.com.
“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.”
This arrest follows a formal request by the Nigerian House of Representatives for the Canadian government to investigate and prosecute Amaka Sonnberger for her threatening remarks.
