Nigerians Demand Arrest of Canada-Based Woman After Viral Video Promotes Violence

Nigerians online are demanding the immediate arrest of Amaka Patience Sunnberger, a Nigerian woman residing in Canada, following the emergence of a viral TikTok video in which she and several others called for the poisoning of Nigerians from the Yoruba and Benin ethnic groups.

The video, which has provoked widespread outrage, shows Sunnberger advocating violence against specific ethnic groups, instructing others in the social media session to poison their food and water. In the video, she is heard saying, “It is time to start poisoning the Yoruba and the Benin,” while other participants encouraged her.

Reacting to the uproar, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, the Director-General of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), addressed the incident on her X.com account.

She identified Sunnberger and revealed that Nigerian communities in Canada had reported her to Canadian authorities. Dabiri-Erewa also noted that Sunnberger had since deleted her TikTok account in response to the backlash.

The video’s content has led to widespread concern, with many Nigerians on social media calling for swift legal action against Sunnberger and those involved in the live session.

Users expressed fear that the threats made in the video could be realised if the individuals were not quickly apprehended.

On X.com, user @DAMIADENUGA shared the video, urging Nigerians in Canada to take precautions and stay safe. Others demanded that all participants in the video be identified and held accountable.

The sentiment was echoed across social media platforms, where many Nigerians condemned the incitement of violence and stressed the need for justice.

The incident has also sparked broader discussions about the need to confront bigotry and violence across all ethnic lines.

Many users called for consistent legal responses to hate speech and incitement, regardless of the ethnic background of those involved.

This incident follows a similar case reported in 2022, when a Nigerian man, Adeyinka Shoyemi, was sentenced to four and a half years in a UK prison for inciting racial hatred against the Igbo ethnic group through online posts.

As the investigation into this latest video continues, there is growing pressure on authorities to ensure that those responsible are brought to justice and that such divisive and dangerous rhetoric is not tolerated.