A 46-year-old Canadian-Nigerian woman, Amaka Sonnberger, is set to appear in court on Monday, September 2, 2024, following her arrest by Toronto Police for allegedly making hate-motivated threats against the Nigerian community.
Sonnberger was apprehended on Sunday after an investigation into online content she reportedly posted on August 25, in which she threatened violence against specific members of the Nigerian community.
She has been charged with uttering threats and will face a judge at the Ontario Court of Justice.
The Toronto Police Service is treating the case as a suspected hate-motivated offence, with the Hate Crime Unit involved in the investigation.
In a statement titled “Suspected Hate-Motivated Threatening Investigation, Woman Arrested,” released on Monday morning, the police detailed the circumstances surrounding Sonnberger’s arrest.
The statement read, “Toronto Police have arrested a woman in connection with a suspected hate-motivated threat investigation. The arrest follows a report received on August 28, 2024, 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.
“Sonnberger was taken into custody on September 1, 2024, and has been charged with uttering threats. She is scheduled to appear in court on Monday, September 2, 2024, at the Ontario Court of Justice, located at 2201 Finch Avenue West.
“The investigation is being treated as a suspected hate-motivated offence. Police are urging anyone with information to contact them at 416-808-3500 or reach out anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 416-222-TIPS (8477) or online at www.222tips.com.”
The police further explained that hate-motivated crimes might involve consultation with the Crown, and if convicted, hate is considered an aggravating factor in sentencing. Charges like promoting hatred or advocating genocide require the Attorney General’s consent and are often delayed.
“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,” the statement concluded.
The House of Representatives and the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) had petitioned Canadian authorities, urging an investigation and prosecution of Sonnberger.
The woman had earlier dismissed the possibility of arrest or deportation after the Nigerian House of Representatives called for her prosecution for inciting violence and genocide against Yoruba and Benin people.
The Nigerian Federal Government had also revealed Sonnberger’s identity after she made threatening comments against Nigerians of Yoruba and Benin descent.
In a video clip that went viral last Tuesday, a woman’s voice was heard making anti-Yoruba comments during a virtual TikTok meeting.
She spoke primarily in Pidgin English, threatening to poison Yoruba and Benin people.
She said, “Record me very well; 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”.
The video sparked outrage among Nigerians, who flooded social media with demands for Sonnberger’s arrest and the prosecution of her accomplices for inciting violence against other Nigerians.
