The Nigerian House of Representatives has formally petitioned the Canadian government, urging them to prosecute Amaka Patience Sunnberger, a Nigerian woman living in Canada, for making inflammatory remarks inciting violence against Yoruba and Benin people.
The petition, dated August 28, 2024, was addressed to James Christoff, the Canadian High Commissioner to Nigeria. It was filed by Mr. Biodun Omoleye, Chairman of the Nigeria-Canada Parliamentary Friendship Group, and Mr. Tochukwu Chinedu Okere, Chairman of the House Committee on Diaspora Matters.
The petition stems from a disturbing TikTok live video in which Sunnberger allegedly called for the poisoning of food and water supplies to kill Yoruba and Benin people. She encouraged people from the South-East region of Nigeria, particularly the Igbo, to take a militant stance against these communities.
The House of Representatives has condemned Sunnberger’s comments as hate speech and incitement to genocide. In their petition, the lawmakers expressed deep concern over her actions, stating, “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 mass genocide.”
The petition further highlights the threat posed by Sunnberger’s statements, emphasizing that her words constitute a direct danger to the lives and safety of millions of Nigerians. The lawmakers argue that her incitement to violence violates several international, Canadian, and Ontario laws, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD).
The petition also cites specific sections of the Canadian Criminal Code that Sunnberger is alleged to have violated, including Section 318(1), which criminalizes the advocacy of genocide, and Section 319(1), which prohibits public incitement of hatred against identifiable groups. Additionally, her threats of poisoning are seen as a breach of Section 264.1, which outlaws threats to cause death or bodily harm.
The Nigerian lawmakers have called for an immediate and thorough investigation by Canadian law enforcement. They urge the Canadian authorities to prosecute Sunnberger under the relevant sections of the Criminal Code and issue a public condemnation of her actions to reaffirm Canada’s commitment to combating hate speech, violence, and genocide.
Moreover, the petition requests collaboration between Canadian and Nigerian authorities to prevent any escalation of violence resulting from Sunnberger’s incitement and to ensure justice is served.
The House of Representatives stressed that Canada and Nigeria have a strong bilateral relationship grounded in mutual respect for human rights and the rule of law. They warned that Sunnberger’s actions threaten to undermine these values and expressed trust that the Canadian government would take the necessary steps to address the issue in accordance with Canadian and international law.
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