Nigerian 'migrant hero' baptised by Pope after foiling robbery
Six months ago Nigerian John Ogah
was alone, without a home or job, begging for small change outside an
Italian supermarket in Rome.
He struggles for words to describe his situation, likening his survival to that of a dead person with nothing to lose.
"It was difficult for me, really. When I [say] difficult, difficult," the former undocumented migrant tells the BBC in a phone interview.
But
fast-forward half a year and John is a legal resident in Italy and
hailed a "migrant hero" for confronting an armed robber. He feels like
the luckiest man on earth now that he has literally been blessed by the
Pope himself.
As part of Saturday's Easter service at the Vatican, the 31-year-old
bent before Pope Francis to be baptised alongside seven other adults
from around the world.
Already a Catholic, but never baptised in
his home state of Kaduna in northwest Nigeria, John says the experience
was a "great surprise" to him and the happiest in his life.
"To be
baptised by the Pope, it means a great future, a great blessing," said
John, who took the baptismal name of Francesco in honour of the Pope.
"I was nobody before, but now I become somebody," he shared.
But how did this somebody get here?
Four years ago, John left Nigeria to escape a criminal gang that
wanted to recruit him, according to Italian media. After a short stay in
Libya, the welder by trade made his way to Italy on a smuggler's boat.
On his arrival, he filed for asylum but in 2016 his case was rejected and he decided to stay on as an undocumented migrant.
In
September last year, the 31-year-old was begging for money outside the
Carrefour supermarket in Rome's Centocelle neighbourhood, much as he had
done for months.
What happened next would change his life.
A
masked thief armed with a meat cleaver tried to make off with €400
(£349) he had stolen from the supermarket's cashiers. But John, who was
watching the robbery unfold, refused to stand by and let the 37-year-old
Italian escape.
"I wouldn't have cared if he had killed me that
day, what he did was not good." John explained to the BBC. "The bible
says thou shalt not steal. Yes, thou shalt not steal."
Security
cameras captured his next heroic steps - confronting the armed robber
with nothing but his bare hands, wrestling the cleaver away and after
the thief fell from his getaway scooter, holding him by the collar until
the police arrived.
John suffered some minor cuts in the scuffle and said he was afraid, but "God protected me".
Once the local police arrived to arrest the Italian, he became conscious of his lack of legal documentation and disappeared.
But
Rome's police authorities sought to reward his courage, and after John
came forward again weeks later, they helped him secure a coveted Italian
residency permit.
"I don't want to be a hero. I just want to be
legal, work and have a dignified life in Italy," he had told Italian
media at the time.
After appearing on national television, he told
the BBC he was offered three jobs. According to Italian news agency
ANSA, he now works for the Italian Red Cross as a warehouse stockman,
finally able to provide for his child back in Nigeria.
The policeman from the supermarket's neighbourhood then encouraged the 31-year-old to share his story with the Pope.
Pope Francis has repeatedly highlighted the plight of migrants during
his papacy, and John said in his letter: "I want you to baptise me if
it is possible."
With the local police captain as his godfather,
John received his wish on Saturday in front of 10,000 worshipers during
one of the holiest nights in the Catholic calendar.
"I feel so
happy right now," John told the BBC, explaining the glory he felt was
given to him by God.
"The Pope laid his hand on me … and believed I am
somebody."
During the service, Pope Francis had asked worshipers
what they could do to help others. "This Easter of 2018, what will I do?
What will you do?"
John Francesco Ogah, who was listening, said the answer was clear to him: he would do what he did again without hesitation.
BBC
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