The crowd - including several local politicians and human rights activists - gathered outside the Northern Ireland assembly to call on the Home Office to urgently reconsider the case of Ronke Falode and Comfort Adefowoju and their young families, all facing imminent removal to Nigeria.

Speakers included Anna Lo, Northern Ireland's first ethnic minority MLA. Martin McGuinness, deputy First Minister, was also present. Politicians from all across the spectrum have come out in support of the families, making representations to the Home Office to re-open both cases and release the families from detention. Friends of the children were also present to urge their release.

Aderonke and her young children have been been held in Yarl's Wood detention centre for over a month now and have successfully resisted three removal attempts.
Comfort Adefowoju and her family were snatched from their Belfast homes on November 30th and have been in detention since. Both are popular and well-integrated families with a wide base of support in their Belfast community, and friends wish to see their safe return before Christmas.

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Caítlin 'Cassie' Nicíomhair
 somethingmustgrow@hotmail.com