A Nigerian mother and her four children are fighting to remain in France after fleeing what they describe as a life-threatening situation linked to Boko Haram, the extremist group responsible for years of violence in northeastern Nigeria.
The family says they escaped after the children’s father became radicalized and joined Boko Haram, a jihadist insurgent group.
According to the mother, his behavior changed dramatically, placing the family in immediate danger.
Family Says Radicalization Changed Everything
“He told me our daughters would no longer attend school,” the mother recalled. “He wanted to raise money by forcing our eldest daughter into marriage.”
She said she pleaded with her husband to reconsider, but he refused.
According to her account, he became increasingly violent, destroyed her business and threatened members of the family.
Fearing for their safety, she decided to escape while the opportunity presented itself.
“The following morning, after everyone had fallen asleep, my children and I ran away,” she said. “That was the beginning of our journey.”
A Difficult Journey Across Europe
After leaving Nigeria, the family traveled through several countries before eventually arriving in France in August 2024.
During their journey, the family’s passports were reportedly stolen in Paris, leaving them without vital identity documents and complicating their efforts to seek protection.
They later moved to Besançon, where the children were able to enroll in school.
Despite gaining access to education, the family reportedly endured homelessness and spent nights sleeping outdoors.
Temporary Refuge Followed by Deportation Order
On April 22, 2025, the family was admitted to an asylum seekers’ reception center in Langres, providing temporary shelter after months of uncertainty.
The relief proved short-lived.
Nearly a year later, French immigration authorities issued the mother with an Obligation to Leave French Territory (OQTF), ordering the family to leave the country.
“If the police find us, they will send us back to Nigeria,” the mother said. “We cannot return because it is too dangerous.”
Fearing deportation, the family left their accommodation during the Easter holiday period and went into hiding in a wooded area near Étampes.
School Community Mobilizes in Support
Concerned by the sudden disappearance of the children, teachers at the family’s secondary school were alerted after one of the older children reached out for help.
Teachers, parents and supporters organized a public demonstration outside the lycée to call for the family’s protection.
Two empty chairs were placed outside the school to symbolize the absence of the sisters from their classrooms.
Supporters also launched an online fundraising campaign to provide temporary accommodation and financial assistance.
Organizers said the campaign aims to ensure the children can continue their education while the family pursues legal protection.
“They have clear ambitions for their future,” one supporter said. “We want to help them continue their studies and give the family the chance to live with dignity.”
Legal Appeal Offers Hope
The family’s legal representatives have appealed the deportation order before France’s administrative court.
The appeal seeks to overturn the removal order and allow the family to remain in France while their asylum case is fully considered.
If successful, the decision would enable the children to return to school at the start of the next academic year with legal residency status.
An Uncertain Future
For now, the family’s future remains uncertain.
Their case highlights the challenges faced by asylum seekers fleeing extremist violence while navigating complex immigration procedures in Europe.
As the court considers the appeal, the mother says her only wish is to provide her children with safety, stability and the opportunity to continue their education without fear of being forced back to the danger they escaped.
