Canadian Police arrest woman who threatened to ‘poison’ Yoruba, Benin people

The Toronto Police Service has arrested a Canada-based Nigerian woman, Amaka Sonnberger, who threatened to poison Nigerians of Yoruba and Benin descent.

The 46-year-old Nigerian, in a recent viral video on TikTok, boasted that she lives in Ontario, Canada, and would ensure the mass killing of Yoruba and Benin people living in Canada by poisoning their food and water.

In the video, she partly said, “It is time to start poisoning the Yorubas and the Benin. Put poison in all your foods at work. Put poison in all your water so that you all will begin dying one after the other.

“You all will not die one day. You will start falling sick for a long time. I will put Otapiapia (rat poison) inside your waters and foods. You people will never recover from the poison.”

After receiving reports of the threat made by Sonnberger on Wednesday, 28 August 2024, the Toronto Police swiftly took action, leading to her arrest on Sunday, 1 September 2024.

Announcing the development in a statement on Monday, the Toronto Police, via its official X account, revealed that Sonnberger had been charged with uttering threats and is scheduled to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice on Monday, 2 September 2024.

The statement reads in full, “The Toronto Police Service is making the public aware of an arrest made in a suspected hate-motivated threatening investigation.

“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.

“Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-3500, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477), or at www.222tips.com.

“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 arrest came a few days after the Nigerian House of Representatives formally requested that the Canadian government investigate and prosecute Amaka Sunnberger over the threat.

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