Campaign against family's deportation

Mildred Okpara, and her three young children aged 7, 5 and 1 years of age are to be deported on the 2nd September. Local people and city wide support groups have launched a campaign to keep her in Sheffield.

There will be a demonstration at the Sheffield Home Office UK Border Agency office at Vulcan House, Riverside entrance, 6 Millsands, S3 8NU, 12.30 -1.30pm on Friday 27th August. There is also an online petition

http://www.gopetition.com/petition/38613.html

Campaigners explained the details of Mildred's case:

"Mildred Okpara fled Nigeria in 2005 with her two children, then aged three years and 5 months. While still a teenager Mildred fled from her home village to escape forced female genital mutilation, a practice which is widespread amongst the Igbo, which is the family’s tribe. She met her partner who she lived with until he was abducted and murdered by the Nigerian separatist group, MASSOB (the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra). After her partner’s murder, threats were made to Mildred and her two children resulting in injuries to her baby son – he is still receiving treatment for these injuries."

“Despite evidence of continuing atrocities committed by MASSOB, the UK Border Agency has rejected her claim for asylum and told her to report to Heathrow on September 2nd. Based on this evidence Mildred is convinced that her family will be targeted and killed by MASSOB if they are forced to return to Nigeria.”

Mildred and her children have been living in Sheffield since December 2005. She is active in the community and is a volunteer with the local Citizens’ Advice Bureau and Sheffield Live! a local radio station. She has also received an award from the City of Sanctuary for her contribution to the community. Her children are doing very well at school where they are very popular and have many friends. She also has a third child, a beautiful baby daughter, born in Sheffield in 2009.