Could it be racism or xenophobia? A Nigerian asylum seeker, Emmanuel Chidi Nnamdi was beaten to death in front of his partner in Italy. The attack took place in the city of Fermo, situated in a central region of Marche in Italy. He died yesterday after being left in a state of irreversible coma.
Chidi Nnamdi was beaten to death with a ripped out road sign pole by an unnamed persons, while defending his 24-year-old partner, simply named as Chinyere. He fled from Nigeria with his wife for the fear of Boko Haram thinking Italy will offer him sanctuary only to die a violent death.
“A few asylum seekers were hosted at the local Catholic mission, and apparently that town and that area is not new to episodes of intolerance and racism. “The guy who is allegedly responsible is notorious in town for his racist views. According to the local priest who hosts the refugees, he calls every African a monkey. It is shameful that this has happened in my country,” a source said.
Nnamdi, was beaten by the 40 year old violent football fan who had first insulted Namdi’s partner calling her an “African monkey,” the police said after arresting the so-called fan.
Further reports said that the couple had been at the bishop’s seminary in Fermo since September after fleeing Boko Haram violence in northern Nigeria. In the report, a local priest, Father Vinicio Albanesi, had said that the attack was probably connected to four bombs recently planted outside Fermo churches that have worked with migrants.
It was said that the bombs, which caused little damage and did not injure anyone, were left outside the churches between February and May. The churches are said to be run by priests who are socially active in helping migrants, drug addicts, the homeless and marginalized. The culprit has been reported to the prosecutor’s office and will be arrested. Reports say that he risks serving a long term sentence once prosecuted.
