Toronto Police Arrest Canadian-Nigerian Woman Who Threatened Yoruba And Benin Communities
A Canadian-Nigerian woman has been arrested by Toronto Police after allegedly making online threats against Yoruba and Benin people living in Canada.
The woman, identified as Amaka Sonnberger, was taken into custody on Sunday following an investigation into a social media post she reportedly made on August 25, 2024. The Toronto Police Service confirmed the arrest in a statement titled “Suspected Hate-Motivated Threatening Investigation, Woman Arrested.”
Sonnberger, 46, is scheduled to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice on September 2, 2024. The case is being treated as a suspected hate-motivated offense, and the Toronto Police Hate Crime Unit is actively involved in the investigation.
The police statement detailed that the investigation was launched after receiving a report on August 28, 2024, regarding the threatening online content. Sonnberger has been charged with uttering threats and will face a judge at the Ontario Court of Justice, located at 2201 Finch Avenue West.
Toronto Police have urged anyone with additional information to come forward and contact them or reach out anonymously through Crime Stoppers.
The police emphasized that hate-motivated crimes often involve consultation with the Crown, and if convicted, hate is considered an aggravating factor in sentencing. They also noted that hate speech charges, such as promoting hatred or advocating genocide, require the Attorney General’s consent and are typically filed at a later stage.
The Toronto Police Hate Crime Unit will either support or lead the investigation depending on the circumstances, ensuring that any bias, prejudice, or hate-motivated elements are fully considered in the legal process.
