Toronto Police Investigate Nigerian Woman for Threatening to Poison Yoruba, Benin Communities

A Canada-based Nigerian woman, Amaka Sunnberger, is under investigation by the Toronto Police Service for making alarming threats of genocide against Nigerians of Yoruba and Benin descent. The investigation follows a viral video in which Sunnberger, during a TikTok live session, threatened to poison food and water supplies to cause mass deaths among these ethnic groups.

Sergeant Bassey Osagie, a representative of the Toronto Police Service, confirmed the investigation, stating, “This incident has been reported to the Toronto Police Service and is currently under investigation.”

The situation has drawn significant attention, prompting the Nigerian House of Representatives and the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) to take action. Both entities have formally petitioned Canadian authorities, demanding a thorough investigation and prosecution of Sunnberger. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairperson of NiDCOM, also sent a petition to the Mayor of Brampton, Patrick Brown, highlighting the severity of the threat.

The viral video, which surfaced on Wednesday, shows Sunnberger boasting about her residence in Ontario, Canada, and outlining her plan to poison the food and water of Yoruba and Benin people. Hours after the video gained traction, Dabiri-Erewa revealed Sunnberger’s identity and circulated her photo.

In response to the video, the Nigerian House of Representatives sent a letter to the Canadian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Jamie Christoff, emphasizing that Sunnberger’s statements pose a direct and serious threat to Nigerians. The letter urged Canadian law enforcement to conduct a “thorough investigation” into the matter.

Despite the backlash and calls for her arrest, Sunnberger remained defiant. In a follow-up video, she dismissed the possibility of her arrest or deportation, asserting her Canadian citizenship by saying, “I have a Canadian passport. I’m at home, why should I lie?”

In the original video, Sunnberger expressed deep animosity toward Yoruba and Benin people, advocating for their systematic poisoning. She detailed her plan to use various poisons, including rat poison, in food and water supplies at workplaces. Her inflammatory statements were made in Pidgin English, as she urged others to join her in her campaign of hatred.