A Nigerian mother, Uche Osagie who lost her three children in a car accident which occurred on New Year’s Day has spoken out on the devastating event.
Narrating how the devastating and unimaginable loss occurred, Uche said her three children died in the collision which took place at northern Ontario highway while on her way to file an appeal for permanent status in Canada.
The Nigerian mother who fled Nigeria eight years ago with her two oldest children for a better life in Canada, said she was travelling to Toronto to get a lawyer to file a federal appeal after receiving a letter that her second appeal had been denied.
Osagie said she received a letter from Immigration Canada on December 23, saying her application to stay in the country had been rejected.
She said she was given 15 days to respond at the risk of deportation
The bereaved mother said;
“I thought I was doing the best thing for them to bring them to Canada to give them a better life, but I don’t know anymore.
“The celebration they longed for, they are no longer here to celebrate. So, to me, I think I’m a loser. I lost it all. All my fight, everything, is in vain and I ask myself, once again, and I keep asking God, ‘Why did you keep me?’ You should have taken me and let those children have a better future. It’s all about them. I lived all my life for those kids.”
Osagie drove to Toronto, spending the Christmas holidays searching for a lawyer to appeal the case. She finally found a lawyer to represent her family, and was making the 400 kilometre trip back.
“My son Destiny said ‘no, I’m not going back to Nigeria,” Osagie said. “I want to live in Canada. I would rather die than be deported.”
“Today, my son is going to be buried in Canada.”
A Nigeria man, Mgbokwere added that fears of deportation plague the Nigerian community in Canada.
“Most of us here are facing the same situation, our individual claims had been rejected, most of us are awaiting their removal from here,” he said.
“We are only asking the Immigration….please if they can be able to allow us to stay here,” he said.
“A lot of families are in trauma here. If we deport them now when they get to Nigeria they face the same situation. Most of them would die of different ways.”
The funeral for the Osagie family is expected to be on January 18.
Flags are reportedly flying half-mast at Chelmsford Public School in Greater Sudbury community of Chelmsford where all three children; Destiny, Flourish, and Britney attended.
