Pesaro, June 7, 2026 – “With five euros of alms I bought a Scratch and Win ticket and won half a million. For ten years I had nothing, now I can only say: thank you, Italy.” This is the story of Imagbe Ehizomwengie, 36, Nigerian and resident in the province of Ancona. He crossed the desert, was kidnapped in Libya, and arrived in Italy on a boat. For almost ten years he lived without documents, begging in Pesaro. Then an incredible turn of events in the form of a winning ticket worth 500,000 euros. A fortune he could not cash directly because he had no residence permit. Today, after the Ancona Court’s ruling, which recognized his right to special protection, he recounts his journey.
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Did you really buy that Scratch and Win ticket with money from begging?
“Yes, five euros. At that time, I supported myself by being a street vendor and begging outside a supermarket. And I tried my luck.”
When you found out you had won half a million euros, what did you do?
“I didn’t believe it. It’s incredible, but it’s true. It’s luck. I even cried.”
Did you think all your problems were over?
“Yes, but then another problem arose. Because, in reality, I couldn’t take that money. Being without a residence permit and without a valid document, I didn’t have the possibility to cash the winnings directly. So I entrusted myself to a fellow countryman, a friend I trusted.”
Did you hand over everything to him?
“Yes, the agreement was that he would keep the money until I managed to regularize my position. But things went differently.”
What happened?
“There were problems. After cashing it, he started acting like the owner of that sum, so much so that other members of the Nigerian community and my cousin had to intervene to find a solution.”
And how was it resolved?
“We talked. Then everything went well. In the end, an agreement was reached: about 250,000 euros were transferred to my cousin’s account, to ensure that part of the winnings remained available to the family. With that money, a commercial activity was purchased in Falconara, ‘Mama African’, where I was supposed to work once I obtained my documents.”
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Your story, however, doesn’t begin with that Scratch and Win ticket. Why did you leave Nigeria?
“My father was the spiritual leader of a secret society, and as the eldest son, it would have been my turn to succeed him. My mother, scared, advised me to run away.”
What was the journey like?
“Very difficult, I crossed Niger, arrived in Libya, and stayed there for about two years. I was kidnapped and only released after a ransom payment. Then the sea, landing in Palermo in the summer of 2016, and transfer to Marche.”
When the court recognized your right to a residence permit, how did you feel?
“I spoke with my lawyer. He told me that everything is fine now. I am happy: thank you, Italy, I like being here.”
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