Deportation Blunder Saves Cameroonian Asylum Couple In UK

A Cameroonian couple seeking asylum in Rochdale have been saved from deportation by a blunder. The staff from the Border and Immigration Agency arrived in town to deport Lydia Ebok Besong and Bernard Oben Batey, of Rochdale Road, Firgrove, but they went to the wrong house. They surrounded the home of a parishioner of St Ann’s Church, Belfield, who had sent them a letter of support for the couple, wrongly believing the couples were inside.

It was the only Rochdale address the Immigration agency had.

But because of the mix up, the parishioner was able to contact the Father Christopher Ketley, vicar of St Ann’s, who, in turn, got hold of Rochdale MP, Paul Rowen.

And it was only after they spoke to Mr Rowen that the agency officers contacted head office and learned that new evidence had arrived to confirm that the couple could stay in Britain.

The couple had earlier been told by the agency that, unless they could produce new evidence proving their lives would be in danger if they went home, they would be deported.

Lydia had told them she was tortured for her association with the Southern Cameroon National Council, a political group which campaigns for the English-speaking minority, which has been declared illegal by the Cameroon government.
On 10 January the couple sent new evidence to the agency claiming it was proof they would be in danger.
Included was a copy of a Cameroonian arrest warrant for Lydia.

Mr Ketley said: “I could understand why this happened if we had come to the end of the appeal process and they had no choice, but to go home, but that is not the case.”

He confirmed that had the immigration officers gone to the right address they would have immediately taken the couple to a detention centre to await deportation.

Lydia, who suffers from stress and depression, said: “We are very grateful to Father Christopher and everyone at St Ann’s for supporting us.”

Bernard said: “The thought of going back is very frightening. We are in a very difficult situation.”
Mr Rowen said: “Father Christopher came to see me on Saturday and I got onto immigration right away.
“They were able to confirm that they had received the new evidence and the deportation was halted. It was a very upsetting experience for everyone involved.”

But the couple still face an uncertain future while the authorities decide if they will be able to stay on humanitarian grounds. Mr Rowen said: “I believe Bernard and Lydia have a genuine case for political asylum and I don’t say that about every case I see.

“Life is very difficult for people in that part of Cameroon, people from the wrong party are being murdered, and we can see that in Kenya at the moment.”

Written by Helen Johnson

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