Killing of physically challenged Nigerian sparks outrage in Italy

An Italian man has reportedly strangled a physically challenged Nigerian, Mr Alika Ogorchukwu to death on the street of Vendor on Friday, thereby sparking outrage worldwide.

The incident which happened in a beach town in Italy has elicited outrage as footage showed the deceased being beaten and strangled by the aggressor.

The video which went viral on Italian news websites and social media attracted the Italian police’s attention and they have arrested the killer.

Reacting to the incident, the Nigerian government through the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed concern over the murder and demanded for justice for the late Ogorchukwu.

The spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Francisca Omayuli, in a statement on Monday in Abuja, directed the Nigerian Embassy in Rome, Italy, to work together with the relevant Italian authorities to ensure that justice is served.

The incident sparked protest with Civitanova Marche’s mayor, Fabrizio Ciarapica, met with members of the Nigerian community who were in their hundreds on Saturday to call for calm.

“My condemnation is not only for the (crime), but it is also for the indifference. This is something that has shocked citizens,” Ciarapica told the Sky.

Former Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, who heads his own small party, called out political leaders for “instrumentalising” the attack.

“I am horrified by this electoral climate,” he said on social media.

“A father was killed in an atrocious and racist way while passersby took video without stopping the aggressor. And instead of reflecting on what we are becoming, politicians argued and instrumentalised.”