THE AFRICAN COURIER. Reporting Africa and its Diaspora! The African Courier is an international magazine published in Germany to report on Africa and the Diaspora African experience. The first issue of the bimonthly magazine appeared on the newsstands on 15 February 1998. The African Courier is a communication forum for European-African political, economic and cultural exchanges, and a voice for Africa in Europe.
The video of an Italian man kneeling over an African in broad daylight in the Italian city of Civitanova Marche, located in the Province of Macerata, which has been widely circulated on news websites and social media since Friday, is so saddening.
The video, which shows how the victim, a 39-year-old Nigerian, Alika Ogorchukwu, was being beaten to death by an Italian man, has shocked millions across the world especially by the indifference of onlookers who did not intervene to save the victim.
The wife of the deceased, Charity Oriachi, has called for justice for her husband over the incident, which happened on Friday in Civitanova Marche city, located in the Province of Macerata, Marche Region of Italy.
Speaking in a video uploaded on Daily Mail, a UK-based news platform, Oriachi said, “I need justice for my husband. That is what I want. I need justice. The pain is too much for me.”
The police, while briefing the public on the incident, said the victim, a father of two who eked a living by street trading, drew the ire of his attacker, a 32-year-old man, having persistently begged for money from him.
“The attacker chased the victim and first attacked him with a crutch, then knocked him to the ground and finished him off, killing him by repeatedly striking him with his bare hands. It is a murder determined by futile motives. What emerges from the investigation is that the victim was particularly persistent in begging money from the attacker and his partner,” the police said.
The police were said to have used street cameras to track the attacker’s movements and arrested him on Saturday on charges of murder and allegedly stealing the victim’s mobile phone. The Italian man is currently being held in the Montacuto prison in Ancona.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Embassy in Italy has described the incident as a ‘brutal murder’, adding that all hands would be on deck to ensure justice prevail in the matter.
“The attention of the Embassy has been drawn to the brutal murder of Alika Ogorchukwu. A 39-year-old Nigerian citizen who was beaten to death by an Italian man on Friday 29th July 2022, in Civitanova Marche city, located in the Province of Macerata, Marche Region of Italy,” the embassy said in a statement it issued on the tragic incident.
“The incident occurred on a busy street, in front of shocked onlookers. Some of whom made videos of the attack, with little or no attempt to prevent it.
“His Excellency Ambassador Mfawa Omini Abam has condemned the gruesome murder and has commiserated with Mrs. Charity Oriachi, wife of the deceased, and the rest of his family.
“His Excellency has directed the provision of immediate consular assistance as appropriate. The Embassy is currently collaborating with relevant Italian authorities to ensure justice is served and to provide succour to the family of the deceased.
“Ambassador Abam wishes to enjoin members of the Nigerian community in Italy to remain calm and to refrain from taking laws into their hands.
“His Excellency wishes to reassure Nigerians in Italy that citizen diplomacy remained the key thrust of his administration and will leave no stone unturned in ensuring that all Nigerians in Italy receive timely, efficient, and professional consular services.”
On Saturday hundreds of people from the local Nigerian community took to the streets of Civitanova Marche, in Marche region, to demand justice. The attack has also been condemned by Italian politicians.
In a related development, Hon. (Dr) Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman/CEO, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), has commiserated with the families of two Nigerians who were shot dead on Saturday (23 July) by gunmen in Vaughan, Ontario, Canada.
While noting that the police authorities in Canada had begun to look into circumstances surrounding the brutal murders, Ms Dabiri-Erewa expressed the hope that the culprits would be brought to book.
She described the death of Chibueze Momah (22), and Tosin Awaroshegbe (25) as very sad and disheartening and expressed her deepest condolences to their respective families and friends.
According to friends of the deceased, “Eze and Tosin were both diligent workers who served as security guards for many lounges in Vaughan. They were loved and cherished by many in the community. Their story was only getting started as they had both recently graduated”.
The two men were looking forward to beginning their careers when their lives were cut shot by the assailants.
Adira Kallo
