The House of Representatives has called on the Canadian government to commence an immediate investigation on a Nigerian woman, residing in Canada who has threatened to poison and kill her fellow Nigerians.
A Nigerian who has been identified as Amaka Patience Sunnberger had, in a viral TikTok live video/audio clip, threatened to poison and kill Nigerians of Yoruba and Edo extraction residing in Canada through food and water poisoning.
In a letter dated August 28th, 2024, titled “Petition Against Amaka Patience Sunnberger For Incitement to Genocide and Hate Speech Against Yoruba and Edo Ethnic Groups”, which was signed by the House Committee Chairman on Nigeria-Canada Parliamentary Friendship Group, Hon. Biodun Omoleye, the House called on the Canadian government through her High Commissioner to Nigeria, His Excellency James Christoff, to commence an immediate and thorough investigation into Ms. Sunnberger’s actions by Canadian law enforcement and appropriate authorities.
The letter reads “On behalf of the House Committee on Nigeria-Canada Parliamentary Friendship Group, 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 for the poisoning of food and water supplies to achieve their mass genocide “.
While condemning Ms. Sunnberger’s actions, the House committee said her actions constituted a direct threat to the lives and safety of millions of Nigerians; hence, 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 House said the recorded statement of Ms. Sunnberger violated Article 20(2) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which prohibited advocacy of national, racial, or religious hatred that constitutes Incitement to discrimination, hostility, or violence.
The House said her actions also contravened Article 4 of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD), which mandated state parties to take effective measures against the dissemination of ideas based on racial superiority or hatred, including the Incitement to genocide.
The actions of Ms. Sunnberger, according to the House also contravened all relevant international laws, domiciled in Canadian federal laws like the Criminal Code of Canada, section 319(1) which criminalized the communication of statements in public that incite hatred against any identifiable group, where such Incitement is likely to lead to a breach of the peace, and criminal code of Canada, section 319(2) which guide against the willful promotion of hatred through the advocacy of mass poisoning and genocide.
The House, however, called on the Canadian government to prosecute Ms. Sunnberger under the relevant section of the criminal code of Canada to hold her accountable for her Incitement to genocide and hate speech.
They also requested 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.
“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 statement concluded.
