Reps Panel Writes Canadian Govt, Demands Prosecution Of Woman ‘Threatening To Kill Nigerians’
The House of Representatives Committee on Diaspora Matters has written to the Canadian government to prosecute a Nigerian resident in Canada over “hate speech.”
This was contained in a letter dated August 28, jointly signed by Tochukwu Okere, chairman of the committee; and Biodun Omoleye, chairman of Nigeria-Canada Parliamentary Friendship Group, and addressed to James Christoff, Canada’s high commissioner to Nigeria.
They requested the prosecution of an individual said to be one Amaka Patience Sunnberger over hate speech.
The woman, said to be Canadian-based, was seen in a viral TikTok clip, allegedly threatening to kill fellow Nigerians living in Canada.
She could be heard saying, “Record me, it’s time to start poisoning the meals…” of some Nigerians. “Poison their food and drinks at work so they can begin to die one by one.”
The lawmakers said the comments “are a direct threat to the lives and safety of millions of Nigerians”.
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“On behalf of the Nigeria-Canada Parliamentary Friendship Group, we are writing to express our deep concern regarding the actions of Ms. Amaka Patience Sunberger, a Nigerian citizen residing in Canada,” the letter partly reads.
The lawmakers explained that “Ms. Sunberger 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 “Incitement to violence and call for genocide through poisoning” are “deeply troubling and are a clear violation of international and Canadian laws such as national, racial, or religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility, or violence,” they stressed in the letter.
The lawmakers contended that “Such rhetoric is dangerous and has the potential to incite real-world violence, both in Nigeria and within the Nigerian diaspora.”
They demanded that an “immediate and thorough investigation” be conducted into Sunberger’s actions by Canadian law enforcement and appropriate authorities.
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“We urge that Ms. Sunnberger be prosecuted under the relevant sections of the Criminal Code of Canada to hold her accountable for her incitement to genocide and hate speech.
“We request that the Canadian government issue a public condemnation of Ms. Sunnberger’s actions to reaffirm Canada’s commitment to combatting hate speech, violence, and genocide.
“We also request that Canadian authorities collaborate with Nigerian authorities to prevent any potential escalation of violence because of Ms. Sunnberger’s incitement, 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 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 lawmakers said in the letter.