The Biafra Government in Exile (BRGIE), led by Simon Ekpa, has called on Canadian authorities to protect Amaka Sunnberger, a Nigerian expatriate at the center of a diplomatic dispute. Sunnberger faces potential legal action after making controversial comments on TikTok, where she threatened violence against Yoruba and Bini people, sparking outrage in Nigeria and abroad.

In a viral video, Sunnberger’s remarks led the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), chaired by Abike Dabiri-Erewa, to petition the Mayor of Brampton, Canada, demanding prosecution. The video has ignited a fierce debate, with many condemning Sunnberger’s statements as hate speech.

However, Simon Ekpa, serving as the Prime Minister of the BRGIE, has stepped in to defend Sunnberger. On Friday, Dr. Joy Robi, Director General of the Biafra Ministry of Foreign Affairs, sent a letter to the Mayor of Brampton, challenging NiDCOM’s claims and defending Sunnberger’s actions. The letter, shared on Ekpa’s official X account, argues that Sunnberger’s comments were driven by the trauma and fear experienced by the Biafran community due to ongoing violence in Nigeria.

The BRGIE’s letter also alleges that Sunnberger’s inflammatory remarks were partly due to the trauma from an attempted kidnapping of her child in Canada. It criticizes NiDCOM’s Chair, accusing her of ignoring the suffering of the Biafran people and argues that Sunnberger’s statements, though harsh, were a response to the intense stress faced by her community.

The BRGIE has urged Canadian authorities to dismiss NiDCOM’s petition, asserting that the accusations against Sunnberger do not reflect her true character. The Biafra government has vowed to protect Sunnberger from any legal consequences, further complicating the already tense relationship between the Nigerian government and the Biafran separatist movement, now with international ramifications.