Kamogelo Olaitan
A Nigerian vendor was beaten to death in broad daylight on Friday on a street in a small Italian town in front of a crowd of onlookers.
The attack has outraged many who believe that it was racially motivated.
The incident, in the seaside town of Civitanova Marche, was filmed by a bystander. Onlookers can be heard pleading with the suspect to stop, but no one steps in to save Alika Ogochukwu.
In the video, which has gone viral on social media, the attacker can be seen grabbing Ogochukwu’s crutch and hitting him with it before wrestling him down. He climbs on top of him and hits him with his bare hands until Ogochukwu dies.
The police were only called after the suspect had left the scene.
During a protest at the murder scene on Saturday, the victim’s wife Charity Oriachi said: “Now I just want justice for my husband”.
It is alleged that the suspect lashed out after Ogochukwu’s “insistent” request for pocket change.
Reports say Ogochukwu, a father of two, started selling goods on the street after he was hit by a car and lost his job as a labourer because of his injuries.
Mayor Fabrizio Ciarapica met with Nigerian community members after hundreds demonstrated at the scene of the crime on Saturday.
He told SkyTG24 news channel that the incident has shocked citizens.
“My condemnation is not only for the crime but it is also for the indifference,” Ciarapica said.
Police investigator Matteo Luconi confirmed the incident and said that they have arrested a male suspect named Fillipo Ferlazzo, 32, who is charged with murder.
He said the police managed to trace the suspect using street cameras.
“The situation is quite clear. Everything seems to have emerged from a dispute over frivolous reasons, not racism,” he said.
Image source:Wanted In Rome
