Student deported to Nigeria

Source: Bury Times

2:00pm Thursday 3rd September 2009


A HOLY Cross College student has been deported to Nigeria after losing her fight to stay in the UK.

Saskia Iloba, aged 17, and her family were put on a flight from Heathrow to Lagos at 10.20pm last Thursday.

The family’s application for asylum was refused and they were sent to Yarl’s Wood immigration removal centre in Bedfordshire on July 6.

Despite months of campaigning and support from thousands of people, they were unsuccessful in attempts to win a reprieve.

Saskia fled Nigeria in 2004 with her mother, Betty, and brothers Toby, aged 18, and Emmanuel, aged 14.

Their father was a police officer who they believe was murdered by people involved in a case he was investigating.

The family decided to flee to Britain when death threats were made against Mrs Iloba and they settled in Rochdale.

Saskia became a popular student at Holy Cross College and Toby was a member of Bury-based FC United’s under 18s team until the end of last season.