Nigerian woman buoyed by kindness of neighbours after racist attack
The words "immigrants out" were spray-painted on the gable wall of Uche Ukeje's home in Strabane, County Tyrone, last week.
Ms Ukeje and her two daughters, aged 24 and 14, were left terrified by what police are describing as a racially-motivated hate crime.
"The community have been wonderful," she told BBC News NI.
Ms Ukeje said it was the first time she or her family had experienced any type of racism since they moved to Strabane two years ago.
Security cameras have since been installed at the property.
Ms Ukeje said her family remain "deeply unsettled" and had considered relocating away from Strabane but the overwhelming support from neighbours and wider community has persuaded her to change her mind.
"A lot of people have been calling around, to see how I am feeling, and they care so much," she said, adding that Strabane is a "quiet, and peace-loving place".
She told BBC News NI that the police have been doing extra patrols on her street to check on her.
"The people of Strabane have showered me in love and care, it has been overwhelming," she added.
Kamini Rao, from Strabane Ethnic Community Association, said people's shock turned to anger in the days following the incident.
"The response from the community has been so overwhelming," she said.
"Everybody has been 100% behind Uche and the girls, supporting them, because nobody wanted to see them leaving Strabane."
She said she was glad that Ms Ukeje and her daughters have changed their minds and will remain in the place they now call home.
Ms Rao said the outcome proved that whoever was behind the racist attack had not won.
"We're going to be working on the ground to make sure nothing like this ever happens again in the community," she said.
"She's loved round here and what happened to her was very intimidating, it was a disgrace what happened to her.
"I'm glad her neighbours rallied round to show her that that's not the type of people here in Strabane."
Mother terrified as home targeted in racist attack
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Yahoo
Trump administration suggests hate crime charges after Cincinnati fight video
This story has been updated to reflect that Dominick Gerace II has been nominated to be the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio but has not yet taken office. A federal prosecutor suggested local authorities should think about using federal hate crime law while handling a fight in downtown Cincinnati that went viral over the weekend. Harmeet Dhillon, assistant attorney general for the U.S. Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division, retweeted a post on X from Ohio Sen. Bernie Moreno and said, "Our federal hate crimes laws apply to ALL Americans." Dhillon said that the division will monitor how local authorities handle this incident. "Nobody in our great nation should be the victim of such a crime, and where race is a motivation, federal law may apply," she added. The Enquirer reached out to the office of the new U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio but did not immediately receive a response. President Donald Trump has nominated Dominick Gerace II to the position but he has not yet taken office. Connie Pillich will prosecute 'to the fullest extent of the law' Ohio has its own hate crime laws on the books that can increase the level of an offense if someone commits a crime based on the "race, color, religion, or national origin" of another person or group of people which the law calls "ethnic intimidation." Hamilton County Prosecutor Connie Pillich said in a statement to The Enquirer that she will prosecute the attackers "to the fullest extent of the law." "I stand by my statement and, when I receive the police reports, I will determine what charges legally available to us to present to the Grand Jury," she said. Regional politics reporter Erin Glynn can be reached at eglynn@ @ee_glynn on X or @eringlynn on Bluesky. This story was updated to add a video. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati fight video: Trump, prosecutor on hate crime charges
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Legacy body appeals for witnesses to deaths of man and woman during Troubles
Fresh appeals have been made for witnesses to separate deaths of a man and a woman in west Belfast during the Troubles. The families of Teresa Carson and loyalist William Marchant have been described as waiting for many years for answers about the deaths of their loved ones. These appeals will involve distributing posters and organised leaflet drops in the areas relating to both investigations. Ms Carson, 47, was found dead at the side of the Glen Road in the early hours of Sunday November 24 1974. It is understood she had witnessed a robbery St John's GAC Social Club on Whiterock Road hours before. She was last seen in the grounds of the club at 12.15am getting into a white coloured car. Mr Marchant, 39, who was also known as Billy or Frenchie, was shot outside the Progressive Unionist Party offices on Shankill Road at approximately 3pm on April 28 1987, and later died in hospital. A brown coloured Datsun Bluebird car, registration number YOI 2557, was used in the attack. It had been hijacked earlier in the day after a family was held at gunpoint overnight at Tullymore Gardens in west Belfast. The Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery has launched appeals for witnesses to come forward in relation to investigations into both deaths following requests from the victims' families. Assistant commissioner Amanda Logan said their families asked the Commission to help them find out what happened to their loved ones. 'We have always underlined the Commission's unwavering commitment to helping families find the unvarnished truth and this is at the centre of our witness appeals,' she said. 'The relatives of Teresa Carson and William Marchant believe that someone may hold vital information that could prove key to the investigations. 'These families have waited many years for answers and we at the Commission are committed to doing everything we can to support them. If members of the public have any information about either of these cases, please come forward.' She added: 'No matter how unimportant your information may seem, what you share could be vital to finding the truth for the families. All information we receive will be treated in the strictest confidence.'
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Man ejected from Knott's Berry Farm for alleged racial slur loses job
A man who was reportedly caught on camera calling someone at Knott's Berry Farm a racial slur and later allegedly being involved in a physical altercation appears to have lost his job at the Riverside County water district. The incident, according to reporting from The Orange County Register, unfolded on July 12. In the widely circulated video, which was posted to both Instagram and TikTok, the man and a woman that appeared to be with him were standing in line when some sort of verbal altercation occurred. The man is then heard using an expletive followed by a racial slur aimed at Hispanic people. It wasn't until later, when the same man allegedly got into a fight that Knott's security removed him from the park for the remainder of the day. It is not clear, though, whether police were called or if the man is facing any charges related to the two incidents. In a statement put out on July 25 and obtained by The Register, the Eastern Municipal Water District in Perris said the following: 'EMWD is committed to guiding principles that include respect, integrity, accountability, and maintaining a safe environment for all employees, customers, and the communities we serve. We remain dedicated to our mission, vision, and guiding principles to provide safe, reliable services to our customers and ensuring that every individual is treated with dignity and respect.' That incident was one of two racially charged altercations at the park that day. Delta co-pilot arrested at California airport moments after landing A woman, who was reportedly upset about not getting the seat she wanted on a ride and then refused to allow the ride to go ahead, was caught on video telling some Hispanic parkgoers that she should call immigration on them. Again, Knott's security responded, removed the woman from the park and banned her for life. In a statement the theme park said: 'Providing a safe, respectful, and family-friendly atmosphere is the type of experience our guests expect and deserve and is a responsibility that the park takes very seriously. We have zero tolerance for any type of inappropriate behavior.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Solve the daily Crossword
