The House of Representatives has written to the Canadian government, urging it to investigate and prosecute Amaka Patience Sunnberger, a Nigerian residing in Canada, for making threatening comments against fellow Nigerians of Yoruba and Benin descents.
In a video clip that started trending on X.com on Tuesday, a woman’s voice was heard making anti-Yoruba comments during a virtual meeting on TikTok.
The woman, who claimed to be a resident of Ontario, Canada, vowed to take poisonous substances to her workplace and harm any Yoruba or Benin person she came across.
She claimed her comments were in response to the “hate” against the Igbo.
In a letter signed by Biodun Omoleye and Tochukwu Chinedu Okere, the federal lawmakers expressed concern over Sunnberger’s inflammatory statements, which they say constitute a direct threat to the lives and safety of millions of Nigerians.
The letter read in part, “On behalf of the Nigeria-Canada Parliamentary Friendship Group and the House Committee on Diaspora Matters, we are writing to express our deep concern regarding the actions of Ms. Amaka Patience Sunnberger, a Nigerian citizen residing in Canada.
“Ms. Sunnberger has recently been recorded making inflammatory statements that incite violence against the Yoruba and Edo ethnic groups in Nigeria, including advocating the poisoning of food and water supplies to achieve their mass genocide.
“Ms. Sunnberger’s recorded statements constitute a direct threat to the lives and safety of millions of Nigerians. Her incitement to violence and call for genocide through poisoning are not only deeply troubling but also represent a clear violation of multiple international, Canadian, and Ontario laws.
“Such rhetoric is dangerous and has the potential to incite real-world violence, both in Nigeria and within the Nigerian diaspora.”
The letter highlighted Sunnberger’s violations of 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.
The lawmakers also requested an immediate and thorough investigation into Sunnberger’s actions, her prosecution under relevant Canadian laws, a public condemnation of her actions by the Canadian government, and collaboration with Nigerian authorities to prevent potential escalation of violence.
The letter added, “In light of the seriousness of these violations, we respectfully request the following actions:
“Investigation: An immediate and thorough investigation should be conducted into Ms. Sunberger’s actions by Canadian law enforcement and appropriate authorities.
“Prosecution: We urge that Ms. Sunberger be prosecuted under the relevant sections of the Criminal Code of Canada to hold her accountable for her incitement to genocide and hate speech.
“Public Denouncement: We request that the Canadian government issue a public condemnation of Ms. Sunberger’s actions to reaffirm Canada’s commitment to combatting ha e speech, violence, and genocide.
“Collaboration with Nigerian Authorities: We also request that Canadian authorities collaborate with Nigerian authorities to prevent any potential escalation of violence as a result of Ms. Sunberger’s incitement, and to ensure that justice is served.”
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