• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • About DNS
  • Subscribe to DNS
  • Advertise with DNS
  • Support DNS
  • Contact DNS

Disability News Service

the country's only news agency specialising in disability issues

  • Home
  • Independent Living
    • Arts, Culture and Sport
    • Crime
    • Education
    • Employment
    • Housing
    • Transport
  • Activism & Campaigning
  • Benefits & Poverty
  • Politics
  • Human Rights
You are here: Home / News Archive / Father fears for disabled son’s life if family are deported

Father fears for disabled son’s life if family are deported

By John Pring on 12th July 2013 Category: News Archive

Listen

theweeksubThe family of a boy with autism who are threatened with deportation have warned that his life is at risk if they are forced to return to Nigeria.

Pius Fadoyin has been in the UK for 10 years, after coming here on a student visa but his son Enoch was born in England.

Enoch is receiving the highest level of support at his mainstream primary school in south London through a statement of special educational needs, while his head teacher has said in a letter supporting the family that it would cause Enoch “significant stress and anxiety” if he was to move school.

Their local health trust has recommended that Enoch has “close supervision at all times” because he has little awareness of danger, that he receives speech and language therapy, and has suggested that any change to his routine is likely to be “particularly stressful and upsetting”.

But despite Enoch’s support needs, his family – Pius, his pregnant wife Kemi, Enoch and his younger brother Elijah – have had their permission to stay in the UK refused and been told they must return to Nigeria.

Pius said that Enoch would face extreme levels of discrimination if he was forced to live in Nigeria, as people with autism are often treated as “outcasts”.

He said he had heard of several cases of children who had died after being poisoned, because it was believed they were possessed by evil spirits.

Earlier this year, a paediatrician at the National Hospital in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja, told a Nigerian news agency that in some parts of Nigeria autism was blamed on witchcraft and the influence of “evil spirits”.

Pius said he feared for his son’s life if the family were deported back to Nigeria.

But he has also told the government that returning to Nigeria would deprive Enoch of the support he is receiving in the UK.

He said: “Taking the child to my country would result in denying him the care, medical treatment and support he is getting from the UK government, as these are not available in my country.”

He also pointed to the “hostile political and social atmosphere” in Nigeria, with sectarian violence, kidnappings and even children being burned alive by religious extremists.

Because of the stigma Enoch would face in Nigeria as someone with autism, his father believes he would be more at risk than other children.

The family’s children’s services department in Southwark has written a letter in support of their application to remain in the UK, warning that Enoch “needs to be present in this country with his parents to be able to continue to get the support he needs that his parents and other professionals can give”.

A Home Office spokesman said he could not comment on individual cases, but added: “The Home Office only returns individuals if both we and the courts are satisfied they do not qualify for protection and have no legal basis to remain in the country.

“When someone is found not to have a right to be here, we expect them to leave voluntarily. If they fail to do so, we will seek to remove them.”

11 July 2013

Share this post:

Share on X (Twitter)Share on FacebookShare on WhatsAppShare on RedditShare on LinkedIn
A photograph shows an audience raising their hands in a BSL sign. The words say: 'BSL Conference 2025. The future starts with us. Leeds 17-18 July. Be part of shaping the future of Deaf cultures and identities. Get 10% off with BDA10'

Related

‘Muddled’ blue badge reforms ‘are to blame for renewal delays’
6th February 2015
UN debate will be reminder of true inclusive education
6th February 2015
IDS breaks pledge on PIP waiting-times, as tens of thousands still queue for months
30th January 2015

Primary Sidebar

On the left of the image are multiple heads of different colours - white, aqua, red, light brown, and dark green - all grouped together, then the words ‘Campaign for Disability Justice. Sign up to support. #OpportunitySecurityRespect’
A photograph shows an audience raising their hands in a BSL sign. The words say: 'BSL Conference 2025. The future starts with us. Leeds 17-18 July. Be part of shaping the future of Deaf cultures and identities. Get 10% off with BDA10'

Access

Latest Stories

Government ignores warnings of new DWP deaths, and UN intervention, as MPs pass universal credit cuts bill

Urgent letter from UN to Labour government warns: We think your cuts continue Tory attack on disability rights

Race against time to secure DWP deaths evidence before parliament passes new benefit cuts bill

‘Complete shift in thinking’ needed on education of disabled children, says ALLFIE

Minister ignored concerns from disabled advisers, months before publishing cuts bill

Frustration after government only issues partial ban on new floating bus stops

Report suggests five big ideas that could transform disabled people’s mobility

My new book shows exactly why we need the disability movement, says disabled author

‘Disastrous’ cuts bill that leaves legacy of distrust and distress ‘must be dropped’

Four disabled Labour MPs stand up to government over cuts to disability benefits

Advice and Information

Readspeaker
A photograph shows an audience raising their hands in a BSL sign. The words say: 'BSL Conference 2025. The future starts with us. Leeds 17-18 July. Be part of shaping the future of Deaf cultures and identities. Get 10% off with BDA10'

Footer

The International Standard Serial Number for Disability News Service is: ISSN 2398-8924

  • Accessibility Statement
  • Privacy Policy
  • Site map
  • Bluesky
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Threads
  • Twitter

Copyright © 2025 Disability News Service

Site development by A Bright Clear Web