Former North Manchester High School head girl Saskia Iloba, 17, and brothers Toby, 18, and Emanuel, 14, had glowing futures in Manchester.
They were hailed as some of the best pupils their teachers had ever seen.
Despite a campaign by teachers and fellow pupils, backed by MPs Paul Rowen and Graham Stringer, the `exemplary family' was due to be deported to Nigeria today after losing a plea for asylum.
They came to Britain four years ago after their policeman father was killed, in what the family say was a politically-motivated murder.
Saskia was an A-level student with ambitions to become a doctor.
North Manchester High head Marian Catterall described how a farewell speech by the teenager reduced pupils and staff to tears.
She said: "In all my years of teaching, I have never come across a better ambassador for young people.
Best speech
"After leaving on the prom, she made a speech and told all the girls that they were some of the luckiest people and they had received a wonderful education and should go out and lead good lives. Everyone had tears in their eyes. She made the best speech I had ever heard.
"It is astonishing that someone like this who has so much to offer is being forced out of the country."
Saskia was studying for her A-levels at Holy Cross College, Bury, and also volunteered to help younger pupils adjusting to life in the school.
Her brother Emanuel, 14, is an exceptional footballer who trained with Bolton Wanderers juniors and was being pursued by top Premier League teams. He had recently signed a sponsorship deal with sportswear brand Puma.
His agent Peter Morrison said the talented player had created `a huge splash of interest' among top clubs.
Older brother Toby is also a talented footballer, who had recently had a trial with Stockport County, and had just completed A-levels at Loreto College in Hulme. He hoped to study economics at university.
The church-going family were taken from their home in Fallinge, Rochdale, two weeks ago to a detention centre in Bedfordshire.
Mum Betty said she now feared for her children's safety.
Threatened
She said: "The people who murdered my husband had threatened us before. I thought we could get safety here. I am so worried for my children. They are going to give me serious problems when I go back to Nigeria."
Family friend Diane Newton said: "There are people with criminal convictions who get permission to stay but a nice family like this are being sent back.
"These are the sort of people we want in Britain. Whatever the Home Office say, I believe every word they told me. They wouldn't take any charity and are genuinely terrified about going back."
Immigration officials say the family have not proved they will be persecuted if they return and have exhausted their appeals.
A Home Office spokesman said: "It is our responsibility to enforce the decisions of the courts and send them home."
You need Flash player 8+ and JavaScript enabled to view this video.
460
275
YvNgm8TEdUs
false
Tweet
Showing comments 1 to 25 and replies | View All
dessie, manchester (15/07/2009 at 09:14)
you cant have one rule for one and one for another!!
Mike S, Manchester (15/07/2009 at 09:21)
Tezza, Tyldesley (15/07/2009 at 09:34)
If these people are genuinely worried for there safety then as Mike S, Manchester says there are plenty more countries that they could try.
Barney Gumball LLB Hons (15/07/2009 at 09:48)
citycentre, manchester (15/07/2009 at 09:57)
nyb, ex manc (15/07/2009 at 10:06)
Nigeria is a former British colony, and commonwealth member. The population are generally English speaking and look towards Britain because of our historic links. I won't go into how we exploited the country in colonial days.
So let all our new found "friends" from Bulgaria, Romania, Slovakia, etc, come and live here, we have so much in common with them, don't we? But a family from Nigeria who have proved their worth and commitment to Britain can just sod off! Wonderful logic, but the law is the law, and it stinks.
It makes me sick how this country tries to pretend it's part of a Greater Europe political union, after all we have a history of being part of a continental Europe, I don't think so! Our whole history is one of global inclusion, trade and diversity outside of Europe, and don't forget our traditional links with North America. I'd far rather we have more good people from former colonial countries, than these continental cousins with whom we have no links at all.
Guten Tag, Manchester (15/07/2009 at 10:28)
Ace , manchester (15/07/2009 at 10:29)
Sam Anderson (15/07/2009 at 10:31)
Black Flag (15/07/2009 at 10:48)
You didn't give them anything. It is people who pay tax who gave them a lift and as one of those people, I'd much rather have my money spent helping people like this than financing your benefits.
Elb Owdeep (15/07/2009 at 10:56)
Steve (15/07/2009 at 10:59)
If you believe what this family say then it appears they have a truly genuine reason to stay, and they didn’t disappear so they authorities couldn’t deport them back, they pleaded their case through the correct and lawful channels.
What I can’t understand is why when the immigration department finds some illegal immigrants in this country, and lets face it we’ve all seen the programmes and seen it on the news, they arrest, caution, charge and then bail them and then never see them again.
Yes this family should go back to their country, which is what our elected decision makers have decided. But I think there are many thousands who enter this country illegally and run away from the authorities that need to be arrested and deported before they deport these people.
Its typical really, if your honest, law abiding and hardworking, then bend over and wait for it. If however you lie, cheat and actively avoid being honest, law abiding and hardworking, you land in the to hard to do tray and the government departments just pay lip service to tracking you.
We all remember the CSA, only fathers that were in stable jobs and easy to track were hit with huge unreasonable bills. Or those millions of pounds of unpaid poll tax written off because it was to hard to track those people down.
Good luck to this family and I hope you remain safe, but if you placed your faith in the righteousness of the British government and its departments then more fool you.
Thomas The Tank, Rusholme (15/07/2009 at 11:14)
Why not try getting to grips with our children by that i mean the children that are left to flounder and are bypassed time after time for others that come into this country and get everything laid on a plate, instant place in a good school help with this and that. Is it no wonder that people are getting sick and tired of this all are welcome attitude. They bypassed all the other countries for one reason and one reason only. WE ARE THE SOFT TOUCH! Enough of your bleeding heart stories, hopefully when you get back to your own country you can put to use the great and exemplary things you have achieved here?
Hope I have not said anything to upset the PC of this world, this is still supposed to be a country of free speech?
Is It Me? (15/07/2009 at 11:19)
Tezza, Tyldesley (15/07/2009 at 11:20)
As you stated Nigeria is a former British colony but they are now independent so unfortunately they can’t have it both way s.
And as much as you obviously dislike it we are part of the European Union and so people from these countries have a right to come and settle here as we do in their countries.
Steve
As you say the immigration service mainly track down the easy to find people because it means less work for them and then it makes there figures look good
Ace , manchester (15/07/2009 at 11:25)
Jay B, oldham (15/07/2009 at 11:29)
all the money im paying out in tax out of my wage, what i buy when i shop and whats taxed on my lifestyle just seems to be being wasted. nothing is being spent on keeping this country and the people of this country who actually contribute to it.
its going on job's for the boys and girls at the top, the lazy scroungers who do nothing with their lives other than take take take. and people who shouldnt really be here.
i can now see why people cheat the tbenefits system or avoiding paying income tax. they what something back! because we dont seem to be getting anything back and years down the line when we'll expect help in old age there will be nothing! the pot will be empty!
the taxation and welfare state needs sorting and soon or else ist will be a mess! the debt in this country will grow and grow.
and this will become a third world country too!
Black Flag (15/07/2009 at 11:36)
When you pay it out of benefits, it doesn't add anything; it's just re-circulating money.
"you seem to let every know that you pay tax and what you dont mind spending it on ...its not up to you to spend your tax money"
That comment sums up your grubby sense of entitlement perfectly. You think it's perfectly acceptable that I should go out to work, earn money and then have you dictate how it should and shouldn't be spent.
The welfare state may have been well intentioned, but all it has done is bred a layer of people like you who think they are entitled to live off the work of others and dictate their lifestyle to them. Unfortunately I can see any way forward other than scrapping the whole thing and moving to a completely voluntary system, so that decent people, like those in this story, get a hand up, while the undeserving get nothing.
Ace , manchester (15/07/2009 at 11:39)
My Goatee, Manchester (15/07/2009 at 11:43)
They should have deported and few 'local' wasters I know instead. Thick, unemployed spongers, lazy and indigenous!
Also, why is it legal and acceptable for other 'non indigenous British' to marry by arranged marriage, bring their new spouses over (who cant speak a word of English and will not integrate) and live off the tax payer?
Law is the law, but common sense should be applied in many cases! These hard working folk get deported yet the street are a wash with illegal immigrant drug dealers, criminals, pimps and people traffickers? Seems like this poor family is an easy target to me!
After walking the streets of Middleton I would rather deport 50% of the local waste of space, chavy populous than this family! We would save a lot more money in benefits too!
Anthony , Accrington,Lancashire (15/07/2009 at 11:49)
micki, Weaste (15/07/2009 at 12:16)
These youngsters have obviously put down roots, established relationships and are on their way to becoming productive members of our society who in time will use that education to benefit this country.
Its a bum deal for the kids...to them, this is "home".
The law is the law.... but in this case its a real shame. I wish them well on their return to Nigeria
Baron Greenback (15/07/2009 at 12:36)
If this sort of thing continues, and if opinion really does seem to start to be dominated by the petty minded, bitter morons then I will soon be following them, taking my family and taxes with me.
I love this country, but the people are turning into utter wastes of oxygen.
James Yates, Hyde, Cheshire (15/07/2009 at 12:49)
Ace , manchester (15/07/2009 at 12:56)