The Nigerian House of Representatives has formally requested that the Canadian government investigate and prosecute Amaka Patience Sunnberger, a Nigerian citizen residing in Canada, for making threatening and inflammatory comments against Nigerians of Yoruba and Benin descent. The request comes in response to a video clip that began circulating on X.com (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday, in which a woman, allegedly Sunnberger, made disturbing remarks during a virtual TikTok meeting.
In the video, Sunnberger, who claims to reside in Ontario, Canada, is heard making anti-Yoruba comments and threatening to harm Yoruba and Benin individuals by poisoning them. She stated that her threats were in retaliation for what she described as "hate" against the Igbo ethnic group.
Expressing deep concern over these statements, Nigerian lawmakers, led by Biodun Omoleye and Tochukwu Chinedu Okere, sent a letter to the Canadian government. The letter, representing the Nigeria-Canada Parliamentary Friendship Group and the House Committee on Diaspora Matters, highlighted the gravity of Sunnberger’s comments, describing them as a direct threat to the lives and safety of millions of Nigerians.
The lawmakers emphasized that Sunnberger’s statements constitute a violation of multiple international, Canadian, and Ontario laws, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, and the Criminal Code of Canada.
In their letter, the lawmakers called for several actions:
1. Investigation: They urged Canadian authorities to launch an immediate and thorough investigation into Sunnberger’s actions.
2. Prosecution: The letter called for Sunnberger to be prosecuted under relevant sections of the Canadian Criminal Code for incitement to genocide and hate speech.
3. Public Denouncement: The Nigerian lawmakers requested that the Canadian government publicly condemn Sunnberger’s actions to reaffirm Canada’s commitment to combatting hate speech, violence, and genocide.
4. Collaboration with Nigerian Authorities: The lawmakers also requested that Canadian authorities collaborate with their Nigerian counterparts to prevent any potential escalation of violence stemming from Sunnberger’s comments and to ensure that justice is served.
The House of Representatives' letter underscores the seriousness with which Nigerian lawmakers view Sunnberger’s remarks and their potential to incite real-world violence both in Nigeria and within the Nigerian diaspora community. The letter concludes by urging swift action from the Canadian government to address this situation and to prevent further escalation.
