A FAMILY seeking asylum in Bolton after fleeing their war-torn homeland have told how they were forced from their beds during a dawn raid by Home Office officials.

The officials, accompanied by police, swooped on the Great Lever home of the Ndombasi family, who fled the oppressive regime of The Democratic Republic of The Congo (DRC) three years ago.

Mum Zola Landu, her husband Irfu Ndombasi and their 13-year-old son, Wenebau, were told to pack only essential items before being taken from Bolton to Yarlswood detention centre in London After spending two months at the centre, they were split up.

Mr Ndombasi, aged 47, was taken handcuffed into a van while Mrs Landu and Wenebau were driven to the airport in a separate car and put on a plane bound for the DRC. The family's deportation was delayed at the last minute when Mr Ndombasi was injured. The Home Office is now investigating an allegation that Mr Ndombasi was assaulted.

The family was taken back to the detention centre, where they remained together for just over a week before being split up again.

Mrs Landu, aged 40, and Wenebau were sent back to Bolton and Mr Ndombasi to another detention centre. Mother and son are now homeless and living with friends in Great Lever.

Wenebau, a pupil at Mount St Joseph's School in Farnworth, said: "We don't know what is happening. When we asked why we were being split up, we were told to ask the Home Office.

"No one will give us any answers. I am traumatised by everything. I can't believe they can treat people like this. We've been shown kindness by the people of Bolton, but what has happened is unbelievable."

The family fled to the UK three years ago and had been living in Roland Court for the past nine months.

They say they were forced to leave their homeland after Mr Ndombasi was persecuted for his political beliefs, but their appeal for asylum has been rejected.

Wenebau said: "I want my father back. He looks after my mum.

"The detention centre is like a prison, it was horrible. We don't know what is going to happen to us."

Another family now living in Bolton, the Sukulas, were also forced to flee the Democratic Republic of Congo. A campaign is under way, backing their fight to stay in this country.

Leading campaigner Jason Travis said: "Over four million people have been killed in the war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, a war started to steal the mineral wealth of the country "It is staggering that under these circumstances, the Government should charter a plane to deport children and adults."

A Home Office spokesman said he could not comment on individual cases, but added: "We are aware of an allegationof assault against the Home Office.

"This is an ongoing police investigation and it would be inappropriate to comment further.

"The Government has made it clear that asylum applicants who are found not to require humanitarian protection will be expected to return home.

"Voluntary returns are preferable to enforced removals, but those who have no legal right to be here and fail to leave the UK voluntarily will be removed.

"Removals are always carried out in the most sensitive way possible, treating those being removed with courtesy and dignity."

CONGO FACTFILE

  • Since 1994, the Democratic Republic of The Congo (DRC) has been torn by ethnic strife and civil war, intensified by a massive inflow of refugees fleeing genocide in Rwanda.
  • This period of conflict has been the bloodiest in history since World War Two. Nearly four million people have died as a result of the fighting.
  • Many families seeking asylum in the UK claim their lives were at risk in the DRC because of their political views.
  • Last year there were 625 applications for asylum in the UK from former residents of the DRC.
  • Asylum seekers are banned from working and some failed asylum seekers have their benefits withdrawn and are forced to rely on charity.