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Interview With Tochi

Tochi, a 19-year-old Nigerian inmate in Changi Prison, pleads not to be killed for his crime. He recounts how he came to Singapore to pursue soccer trials but got trapped after being misled by a man named Mr. Smith who said his friend would pay Tochi money at the airport but no one came. Stranded without funds, Tochi was arrested after waiting for long periods at the airport and is now facing potential execution.

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Arif Khan
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36 views

Interview With Tochi

Tochi, a 19-year-old Nigerian inmate in Changi Prison, pleads not to be killed for his crime. He recounts how he came to Singapore to pursue soccer trials but got trapped after being misled by a man named Mr. Smith who said his friend would pay Tochi money at the airport but no one came. Stranded without funds, Tochi was arrested after waiting for long periods at the airport and is now facing potential execution.

Uploaded by

Arif Khan
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Interview with Tochi on Friday, 4th August 2006. at 9 am.

Please don’t allow them to kill me……pleads 19 year old Nigerian prison inmate.

“I don’t understand why they have to kill somebody for something like this”.

(Just outside the interview room at Changi Prison a poster read,” Never Lose
Hope” one small change makes you happy,…………………………….)-my observation

Transcript

When I was 5 years old, parents gave me away to my uncle & aunty and I was living
with my nephews. My parents had 8 children. They gave 5 away except me,
my younger brother (now 18 years old), sister (14 years old)

My mum had passed away. My dad is in the village where there is no means of
contact. The village has no telephone facilities & and family is very poor.

My brother is now out of the village. Brother is now in Lagos, staying with nephew.
I think my brother had dropped out of school to support dad and sister.

History

I studied in Saint Anthony’s Missionary School at Ohafia village, in Abia State. My


family lives in Ozubulu village located in Arambra State.

I had little contact with family because my village is in another state. I was a good
soccer player in school. At the age of 14, I went to Senegal to play football. I
participated in the West African Coco Cola Cup Championship.

I also played for Nigeria in the Quarter Final. “I also played for Njambi football
club at Senegal. The President of the club is a former Senegal FA President,
Mr Abu Bakar Gai.

I was injured during the training and went back to Nigeria .My intention was to
play for Emirate club in Dubai. Then due to no Dubai Embassy in Nigeria, I was
advised by travel agent to go through India. Then I got Indian Visa. Before the
expiry of the visa, I had ankle injury.

I also found out that India is not very near to Nigeria so I had to go through
Pakistan. The travel agent said, there is a train to Dubai from Pakistan and I could
take a train to Pakistan from Dubai. There is a Dubai Embassy in Pakistan. I had
barely US $ 200.

Pakistan

When I arrived in Pakistan I found out that there is no train to Dubai. I looked
for an Emirate Embassy. There was no Emirate Embassy in Islamabad.

I was in total despair. No accommodation & no food and little money in my pocket.
I went to St Andrew’s Church in Islamabad. I found out that St Andrew’s Catholic
Church gave accommodation to poor to especially African’s
Pastor Andy was very kind to allow me to stay.

During the Sunday service, people of African origin working in Pakistan attended
the church.

Mr. Smith.

There I met Mr. Smith who attended the Sunday church services. He works as an
Engineer and belongs to my same tribe Igbo. He said he was doing business with
government.

It was a strange meeting. He recognized me during the services and asked me


whether I was the one who missed the penalty goal in the state league in Nigeria
(2003) competition, where I was representing United football Club.I felt shy
about the missed penalty goal, but later I summoned enough courage and admitted
I was the one.

He said they (Pakistani's) play cricket here,not a football nation.

Then I told him my story. Time to time he used to give me money for my survival
and buy me food.

I met him once in an African resturant when he informed me that he could help me
with visa to Dubai.

According to him, there is a Dubai Embassy in Afghanistan. He took my passport


for purpose of visa application and I followed him to Afganistan.

Afganistan

I went to Dubai embassy. There they required a letter from my own embassy and
needed a bank account number and some documents eg: company insurance. Smith
said he is taking care of me. The bank account number and the letter from
embassy is not was not with him.

They refused to issue me a Dubai visa. Then we went back to hotel. He told that I
should not worry.

He said that he has a friend in Dubai who can help those in transit. I followed him
to Dubai transit airport. Then we reached Dubai airport. There I was sitting in one
place when reached Dubai airport.

He told me to stay one place to make calls. He said wait.He said he is going to
travel out of city. Then I said what I am going to do. He said he will help me to go
Senega because I had played soccer there before.

I gave him my brother contact number. During this time, he made another call.
He said he don't have enough money to go Senegal. He is not going to Nigeria
directly. He said he is going to Indonesia then Nigeria to give some herbal
medicine to a sick friend who is ill.

He went to make another call and came back and said no need to apply for visa for
Nigerian to go Singapore.

He said he has some herbs to give his friend and will ask his friend to meet me at
Singapore airport. I will have to pass the herbs to him and in return his friend will
give me some money at the Changi Airport transit. Then I can go and approach
Football clubs in Singapore.

He opened his protein bag. I asked him what it is. It has another small bag with an
Herbal Instruction manual.

He gave me US $200.
He would tell his friend to give me enough money. He went to a ticket counter.
Then he came back, gave me my ticket. He told me and gave me ticket and gate
way number.

He told me about Mr. Marshall, an African big built, will be at Coffee Bean.

In Singapore

Then I came to Singapore. I reached transit 2. I had to wait at Coffee Bean. I


waited for 4 hours. I did not see anybody. I called Mr. Smith. I told him I did not
see anybody at Coffee Bean. He said you must have at least US $500 to come in if
not immigration will deport me.
I had only $100 plus.
‘”Smith said, you think my friend is not coming”, and he gave me Marshall’s number.

He told me his name is Marshal. (Malachy the sound alerted). He said he would
come in the evening. I had already waited 6 hours.

Mr. Smith said since I am tired, go and find a place to sleep at transit hotel.
A transit hotel cost $40 to $ 50.

Then I went back to hotel. I ask for room. They told me to wait. I asked them if
there no room. The receptionist said, it is their procedure to call the police to
check me to see if any problem before giving me one.

I then went to buy Pepsi and banana as I was hungry.


The police came and took me to lobby.

They asked how long you were here. Come let me check you bag.
During this time, they also asked me when you came to Singapore.

I came for soccer trial. I need to go through FA.


They said ok. Why have you been waiting for long?
. I said I don't have money. Only US $ 120.00
I don't want to be deported.

Then why are you waiting for so long?


I said, waiting for someone who would pass me money

How much he is going to send?


US $ 1000 OR us $ 2000.
I said, that was what I expected when Mr. Smith said, friend would give you
enough money.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
He explained the meaning of his name. as I finish the interview(my comments)

Ibu language: “Praise God"...


Grace of god -Amara Tochi.

As I was approaching to open the door to leave the interview room, Tochi was still
sitting there and pleaded ….

"Please don't allow these people to kill me".

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