The Toronto Police Service has arrested Amaka Sonnberger, a Canada-based Nigerian woman, for making violent threats against Nigerians of Yoruba and Benin descent.
Sonnberger, 46, became the subject of a police investigation after a video surfaced online in which she threatened to poison Yoruba and Benin people living in Canada.
In the video, which began trending on X last Tuesday, Sonnberger, speaking mainly in Pidgin English, boasted about her plans to poison food and water belonging to Yoruba and Benin people in Ontario, Canada.
She said, “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 Toronto Police were alerted to the threat on Wednesday, August 28, 2024, and took action.
News About Nigeria gathered that Sonnberger was arrested on Sunday, September 1, 2024.
The Toronto Police confirmed the arrest in a statement on Monday, detailing that Sonnberger had been charged with uttering threats and was scheduled to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice on Monday, September 2, 2024.
“The Toronto Police Service is making the public aware of an arrest made in a suspected hate-motivated threatening investigation,” the statement read.
The police revealed that Sonnberger allegedly posted the threatening content online on or about August 25, 2024, specifically targeting members of the Nigerian community.
The investigation is being treated as a suspected hate-motivated offence.
“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,” the statement partly read.
The Toronto Police encouraged anyone with additional information to come forward and contact the authorities.
Sonnberger’s arrest followed calls from the Nigerian House of Representatives and the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, which had petitioned the Canadian government to investigate and prosecute her for inciting violence and potential genocide against the Yoruba and Benin communities.
Prior to her arrest, Sonnberger had dismissed the possibility of facing legal consequences, despite the formal request from Nigerian authorities for her prosecution.
