Two Nigerian migrants Jennifer and Gideon were among the six Africans injured in the brazen drive-by shootings in central Italy last Saturday.
A gunman later identified as a right wing extremist, Luca Traini, draped in an Italian flag had opened fire on passersby in the central Italian city of Macerata, injuring the African migrants in an attack that officials say appear to be racially motivated.
Gideon, 25, and Jennifer, 29, are both receiving treatment at a hospital in the city. The rest of the victims from Ghana and Mali had lesser injuries.
Hospital officials said Jennifer suffered a fracture to her humerus bone in her arm. She is still wondering why the gunman hit her
“I never hurt anyone. I was talking and laughing with three other people when I was struck by the bullet” she said.
She said she will no longer feel safe walking around the city “with peace of mind” after the attack.
“We foreigners are the first to want justice, we have come to Italy to live in peace, it is inhuman to shoot at random on innocent people, I have never wanted trouble with anyone”, Jennifer said.
Her boyfriend, Ogie Igbinowania told La Repubblica they were waiting at a bus station when he saw a man pointing something at them from a car.
"I gave Jennifer a push to get her out of the way and threw myself down. And I heard a shot: Boom."
Gideon also told Italian Newspaper Le Stampa that he had always considered Macerata a safe city. He still wondered how he managed to survive the gunshot.
“I thought I would die. I do not know who attacked me. I would ask only two things: why he did it and what he has against me. Those who do something bad must be afraid, not those who behave well,” he says.
"In three years I have never had any problems with anyone, either with Italians or with other foreigners. I worked in a supermarket and now I’m looking for a new job. I’m someone who minds my business. I do not get into trouble. I never imagined I could find myself in this situation. Now I do not know if I’ll manage not to feel in danger”
Interior Minister Marco Minniti said the attack was part of a culture "of right-wing extremism with clear reference to fascism and Nazism" and deplored that the sole link between the victims was "the colour of their skin". He said the "criminal act" was "prepared in advance".
Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni meanwhile made a pitch for unity, saying: "Hate and violence will not divide us."
Photo: Jennifer on hospital bed
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