Amaka Patience Sunnberger, a Canada-based Nigerian woman, has dismissed any concerns about the possibility of her arrest or deportation. This statement comes in response to recent actions by the Nigerian House of Representatives, which has called on the Canadian government to prosecute her for allegedly inciting violence and genocide against Yoruba and Benin people.
In a viral video clip that began trending on X.com on Thursday, Sunnberger confidently cited her Canadian citizenship as a safeguard against legal actions. She asserted that Canada’s legal system is fundamentally different from Nigeria’s, where, according to her, arrests can be made without proper questioning or due process. This statement implies her belief that her Canadian nationality provides her with a layer of protection that would not be available if she were solely a Nigerian citizen.
In the video, Sunnberger can be heard saying, “Somebody just send me message, say them arrest me, say them wan deport me, with passport? I be Canada pikin. See am now, I dey house, why I go dey lie?” These remarks were made in response to rumors circulating that she had been arrested or was facing deportation.
The controversy surrounding Sunnberger began earlier this week when another video surfaced on social media. This video, which was recorded during a virtual meeting on TikTok, shows Sunnberger making threatening comments directed at Yoruba and Benin people. In the clip, she expressed intentions to harm any Yoruba or Benin person she meets, this immediately sparked outrage among viewers. These comments were widely condemned as inciting violence and hatred against specific ethnic groups, leading to calls for her to be held accountable for her words.
In reaction to the video and the public outcry it generated, the House of Representatives took a formal stance addressing a letter to the Canadian government, urging them to investigate and prosecute Sunnberger for her inflammatory remarks.
The House stated that her comments are in violation of both international laws and Canadian laws against hate speech and incitement to violence. They argued that such behavior should not be tolerated, regardless of her citizenship status or where she currently resides.
The Nigerian lawmakers are concerned that allowing such remarks to go unpunished could set a dangerous precedent, potentially encouraging others to make similarly harmful statements without fear of repercussions.
Despite the backlash and the calls for legal action against her, Sunnberger appears to remain unphased as her statements in the video suggest her feeling of security in her status as a Canadian citizen and believe that the legal framework in Canada will protect her from any repercussions for her actions.
The situation has also raised questions about the role of social media platforms in regulating content and preventing the spread of hate speech. Many are calling for platforms like TikTok and X.com to implement stricter guidelines and monitoring to ensure that their spaces are not used to propagate hate or incite violence.
The incident has certainly put a spotlight on the complexities of international law and the challenges of addressing hate speech in a digital age where boundaries and jurisdictions are often blurred and underscores the importance of cross-border cooperation in tackling issues related to hate speech and incitement to violence, as these are problems that are not confined to one nation but can have far-reaching impacts.
As the story continues to unfold, many are closely watching to see what actions, if any, the Canadian authorities will take. Will they heed the call of the Nigerian lawmakers and pursue legal action against Sunnberger, or will they decide that the evidence does not warrant such measures?
A link to the video clip can be found here: Watch the video on X.com.
