PORT HARCOURT—The leader of a vigilante group and two other members of the body have been arrested for torturing a man to death in Rivers State. The incident happened at Okogbe Community in Ahoada West Local Government Area of the state. It was gathered that the chairman of the vigilante group, simply identified as Joshua and another member of the outfit, Friday Silas as well as motorcyclist, Obed Godlove, have been arrested in connection with the killing. They were arrested by the youths of the community and a Joint Task Force team in Ukpeliede Community on Sunday, when the trio were attempting to dispose off the remains of their victim. It was alleged that the suspects had on Saturday arrested their victim identified as Ghadafi after accusing him of stealing palm fruits from Okogbe. The suspects, who arrested Ghadafi had allegedly tortured him to death and were making efforts to dump his remains in a secluded place before they were arrested. It was gathered that when security operatives accosted the suspects, that the hands and legs of the deceased were still tied with ropes. When the security queried the suspects upon their arrest, Joshua claimed that the victim has been terrorising the community and they had to apprehend him with a view to banish him from the community when he unfortunately died in the process. Speaking, Chief Security Officer of Ukpeliede Community, Mr. Osiga King, said the community youths noticed some suspicious moves and quickly contacted security agents in their area. King said the quick intervention of the security formations in their area led to arrest of the suspects, adding that the suspects entered their community to dump remains of their victim. The Public Relations Officer of the Rivers State Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the development, saying: “The suspect was involved in various cases of stealing and also attempted to rape an NYSC member in 2023. He was assaulted by community youths, which led to his death.”

The Yobe State Police Command has arrested an 18-year-old housewife for allegedly mutilating her husband’s genitals with a sharp object during a domestic dispute in Potiskum Local Government Area of the state. THENEWSCREDIT learnt on Monday that the incident occurred on Friday, leaving the victim critically injured. The command’s spokesperson, Dungus Abdulkarim, told THENEWSCREDIT in a telephone conversation that officers responded to a distress call and found the man lying in a pool of blood inside his room. “On February 6, our policemen responded to a distress call that a man was found lying in his room in a pool of blood. We rushed to the house and could not find anybody, so we immediately took him to a clinic for treatment and later referred him to the Azare Medical Centre for further treatment,” he said. According to the police, the suspect fled the scene after the attack but was tracked and arrested on Monday. “At the moment the wife fled, we could not get her until early this morning. She has been arrested, and we are investigating to determine what transpired to the extent of her using a sharp object to cut off her husband’s manhood,” Abdulkarim added. The police spokesperson said the husband identified his wife as the attacker, but had yet to give a detailed statement due to the severity of his injury. “We have not been able to get any statement from the husband due to the pain from the injury he sustained,” the spokesperson said. He noted that further updates would be provided as investigations continue. The incident adds to growing concerns over cases of domestic violence resulting in serious injuries or deaths. In March 2025, THENEWSCREDIT reported that the Lagos State Police Command arrested a man, Peter Dike, for allegedly stabbing his wife to death during a heated argument at their residence in the Oke-Ira Ilogbo Eremi area of the state.

Survivors of the recent terrorist attacks on Worro and Nukku communities in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State have appealed to their abductors to release their wives and children as the Ramadan fasting period approaches. The affected residents made the plea while speaking with journalists during a visit to the devastated communities by the senator representing Kwara North Senatorial District, Sadiq Umar, on Sunday. According to the survivors, there is no one left to support them at home, particularly with cooking and other preparations for the fast, following the abduction of women during the attacks. “We are appealing to both the government and the attackers to release our wives and children in the spirit of Ramadan,” one of the residents said. The villagers disclosed that the attackers, who reportedly killed over 170 people and abducted more than 100 others, mostly women and children, have not made any ransom demands since the attacks. Residents also revealed that many families are yet to rebuild their burnt and destroyed homes, with most victims currently squatting with relatives or seeking refuge outside the area. Speaking on the situation, the village head of Worro, Alhaji Umar Bio Salihu, said the community is grappling with a severe lack of basic infrastructure, particularly drinking water, due to the destruction of electricity facilities. “There has been no water since electricity was destroyed. Without power, we cannot pump water. It was the senator who donated a generator to enable us to pump water. During the burial of the dead last Wednesday, we had to travel for over an hour on a terrible road to Kaiama to get water,” he said. Alhaji Salihu added that insecurity remains the community’s biggest challenge, noting that many residents have fled. “There are limited people left in the community. Many have relocated elsewhere. The only thing that will make people return is adequate security. Even those still here may leave at any time,” he warned. Due to the level of destruction, the village head’s palace—normally used for community meetings—was damaged, forcing residents to receive the visiting senator under a tree. During his visit, Senator Sadiq Umar toured the affected communities to assess the level of destruction and visited a mass gravesite, where over 150 victims were reportedly buried. Prayers were offered for the deceased. The senator assured residents that efforts were ongoing to restore peace and rebuild the communities, while calling on the Federal Government to improve road infrastructure in the area urgently. “With these bad roads, before help can arrive, hoodlums would have already caused untold damage,” Umar said. He also suggested that the government should consider converting parts of the Kainji National Park into an agro-industrial zone as a long-term strategy to curb banditry. As part of immediate relief efforts, Senator Umar distributed palliatives and cash support to victims and urged residents to remain hopeful, vigilant, and cooperative with security agencies by providing timely intelligence to help safeguard lives and property.

The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Akeem Owoade, has been dragged to court to make an appearance personally or through representation in a case instituted against him by princes of the town at the State High Court sitting in Oyo Town. The claimants; Ladigbolu Adegboyega, Owoade Tesleem, Adeyemi Adesina and Adeyemi Adebayo — in suit No: HOY/18/2026, sought an order of perpetual injunction restraining the Alaafin, a defendant in the suit, either by himself, servants, privies or any other person whatsoever, from appearing, attending or further attending occasions and functions that are not befitting the status of a symbolic traditional head of the Yoruba race. They also sought an order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendant from acting in any traditional or official capacity that would make him subservient or inferior to any Oba in Yorubaland. The claimants further sought a declaration that the office of the Alaafin of Oyo, currently occupied by the defendant, is of great historical importance not only in Yorubaland but also in Nigeria, West Africa and beyond. “A declaration that the Alaafin of Oyo is the symbol of unity, togetherness and the pivotal holder of the cultural, customary and traditional heritage of the Yoruba people. “A declaration that the Alaafin of Oyo is the paramount ruler and appointing authority over all chieftaincies in Oyo Town as well as Oyo North and South,” the suit read. The defendant, as stated in the writ of summons, may enter an appearance personally or through legal practitioners by handing in the appropriate forms duly completed at the registry of the High Court of the judicial division where the action was brought, or by sending them to the registry by registered post.

A former Senator representing Oyo Central Senatorial District and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress in Oyo State, Ayoade Adeseun, on Sunday, disclosed that he facilitated about N500 million in federal funding for the establishment of the Federal Polytechnic, Ayede, in Ogbomoso. He described the project as a deliberate intervention to expand the federal educational presence and promote technical skills development in the state. Adeseun made the disclosure in an interview with The Punch in Ogbomoso, saying the idea for the institution was conceived during his first term in the National Assembly while serving on the House Committee on Education. He explained that exposure to a federal government study on the distribution of tertiary institutions across the country revealed a glaring gap in the state. THENEWSCREDIT that the Federal Polytechnic, Ayede, in Ogbomoso was established in February 2021 by the administration of the late President Muhammadu Buhari in Ogo-Oluwa Local Government Area of the state. The institution is a key technical hub aimed at promoting vocational education and skills development. It operates with a focus on practical, entrepreneurial training and offers National Diploma programmes in fields such as Accountancy, Engineering, and Computer Science. Its temporary site is located in Iresa-Pupa. Speaking further, Adeseun said, “Well, during my first time in the House of Representatives, I belonged to the House Committee on Education, and I was privy to a study carried out by the Federal Ministry of Education to ascertain the status and spread of federal educational institutions across the country. “That report showed where institutions were located. In some states, there were two or three federal institutions, but in this state, there was only one — the University of Ibadan.” He described the situation as unacceptable, noting that despite UI’s historic status as Nigeria’s premier university, the state needed more federal presence in tertiary education, particularly in technical training. “I said to myself, as pre-eminent as UI had become, to say we don’t have any other federal educational institution in this state was scandalous. “So, we reasoned that wherever there was a conventional federal university, there should also be a technically-oriented institution,” he stated. The former lawmaker said attracting such an institution to his constituency became part of his legislative responsibility. “You know the work of a legislator is principally threefold: to legislate, to represent your community by bringing development, and to carry out oversight. So improving the lot of my people was my focus in trying to bring that institution.” He disclosed that while the effort did not materialise during his first term, he intensified the push during his second tenure. “I got to work. I didn’t finish it the first time, but in my second time, I took the bull by the horns, secured the institution for my community, decided the location, and when it was to be established.” Adeseun noted that his motivation was also driven by Nigeria’s shortage of technically skilled manpower. “One of the things missing in the Nigerian economic space is people with technical skills. For a long time, we had foreigners handling carpentry, construction, and other technical jobs. When their economies improved, they left, and we were stranded,” he said. He stressed that polytechnic education remains crucial to economic growth in a technology-driven world. “The world is becoming technological. If we don’t train people in technologically-oriented institutions, we will lag behind,” he added. Speaking on the siting of the institution, the senator said his background in Urban and Regional Planning influenced his decision to locate the polytechnic outside Ogbomoso township. “From day one, I made up my mind it would not be located inside the town. I wanted it in a rural setting to decongest the city and drive development outward.” He said Ayede village was eventually selected after consultations with traditional authorities, including the late Soun of Ogbomoso. “I told Kabiyesi I was bringing a federal institution but wanted it sited in Ayede. He supported the idea and blessed it,” Adeseun recalled. He added that the community provided about 100 acres of land for the project, after which he secured federal approval and funding. “I took everything back to Abuja, secured federal approval, and got budgetary allocation running into half a billion naira for the project,” he said. Adeseun noted that stakeholders’ meetings involving traditional rulers and government officials were later held to sustain the project, especially as his tenure ended before construction commenced. He also revealed that attempts were made at a point to relocate the institution but were resisted by stakeholders. “Today, the institution is doing very well. They have graduated two sets of students already, and we are preparing for another convocation,” he said.

A former President, Olusegun Obasanjo, on Sunday called for the recognition and promotion of the Iwe Iroyin House — where the first newspaper in Nigeria was published in Abeokuta in December 1859 by British missionary, Rev. Henry Townsend—as a key heritage site. Chief Obasanjo also urged that similar recognition be extended to the Abeokuta residence of one of the wealthiest Yoruba women in history, Efunsetan Aniwura, a former Iyalode of Ibadan; Madam Efunroye Tinubu’s two-storey building near Akin Olugbade Hospital, Abeokuta; her burial ground at Gbagura; as well as the old Ibara Railway Station and the first flyover in Abeokuta. The former president further stressed the importance of showcasing notable Egba personalities such as the Ransome-Kutis, Toye Cokers, Majekodunmis and M.K.O. Abiola, as well as institutions like Abeokuta Grammar School, in order to preserve and promote the historical sites of the ancient town. Obasanjo, according to a statement issued by his Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Akinyemi, made the call while hosting organisers of the Lisabi Pre-Festival Heritage Tour and Cultural Art Exhibition in Egbaland. The Lisabi Day Festival is an annual cultural celebration in honour of Lisabi Agbongbo Akala, a revered warrior of Egbaland who is believed to have mysteriously disappeared into the Oba Forest in present-day Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State about 200 years ago. While hosting the delegation, Obasanjo reportedly emphasised the need to “preserve, renovate and promote key heritage sites,” warning against continued neglect and destruction so that future generations would have tangible history to enhance tourism. “There is no doubt that Egbaland is filled with notable people and places which must be preserved and given a facelift to boost tourism,” he said. “The background of these great individuals should be highlighted and shown to the world. One of several heritage sites that require attention is the popular Iwe Iroyin House (home of Nigeria’s first newspaper), as well as the Abeokuta Prison at Ibara, one of the oldest in the country.” Other sites mentioned by the former president included the old and dilapidated Ibara Railway Station; Oke Sokori, the residence of Efunsetan Aniwura; Madam Tinubu’s storey building near Akin Olugbade Hospital; Madam Tinubu’s burial ground at Gbagura; and the first flyover in Abeokuta. The Chairman of the Lisabi Festival Committee and Asipa of Egbaland, Navy Captain Rasheed Adisa Raji (retd.), explained that the purpose of the visit was to brief the former president on the 2026 Lisabi Festival and the proposed Lisabi Pre-Festival Heritage Tour and Cultural Art and Heritage Exhibition. Raji said, “We are also here to seek your blessings on the cultural and festival tours, which will include a special exhibition of traditional herbs (Ewe ati Egbo) and medicines. “We also request, sir, our Baba, to deliver a lecture on the role of traditional herbs from Egbaland during this festival.” The Coordinator of the Pre-Festival Heritage Tour and Cultural Art Exhibition, Olusanya John, presented a detailed itinerary and exhibition plan, emphasising that all key sections of Egbaland would participate in hosting the tours and visits during the festival period. The former president accepted the invitation and assured the organisers of his support, pledging to deliver the lecture and contribute to the success of the event. Other members of the visiting delegation included Prof. Ajao Adelekan; renowned theatre artist Ebun Oloyede (Igwe Olaiya); Chief Sina Yekinni; Chief Modupeoluwa Sanyaolu; Chief Akindele M. Olajumoke; Basirat Adisa; and Olawunmi Abiola, among others.

Nigeria may be heading for a season of unusual rainfall patterns and intense heatwaves as climate change continues to disrupt long-established weather cycles, experts have warned. They explained that the disruption in the established weather cycles was already evident in parts of Nigeria, where communities have experienced off-season rains, extreme heat, and unpredictable weather conditions. The experts, who spoke exclusively with Our correspondent, said these changes may also impact flooding, food production, and public health. THENEWSCREDIT reports that there had been some heavy rainfall in parts of Lagos, Ogun, and other states in January and early February 2026, which does not follow the usual patterns in the country. Reacting to the matter, the Director of Environmental Service, Lagos State Primary Healthcare Board, Mr Ahoton James, said the rainfall in January and early February remains a pointer that the country may experience unusual rainfall and heatwaves. According to him, the changes are evidence of climate change impact. This, he said, was evident in the harmattan pattern in December 2025 and January 2026, which many Nigerians do not experience. “Since climate change is happening, the impact is that we are no longer able to predict climate conditions the way we used to. Rain can now fall at any time. “If you observe, there was no harmattan last year. And up till this moment, we haven’t witnessed it. The one we experienced just came on one morning in late January and evaporated in the afternoon. Those are the impacts of climate change,” he said. He noted that the rising global temperatures are altering rainfall distribution, leading to heavier downpours in some areas and prolonged dry spells in others. “Climate change itself is a result of global warming. When we say global warming, it means there is an increase in the temperature of the globe, and this increase has altered the climate. “The climate is no longer the way we knew it when we were younger. So, this is one of the impacts of climate change. That is why we are experiencing heavy rainfall in January, whereas we used to expect heavy rainfall from late April. “If you also observe last year, there was a serious alteration in the rainfall pattern. The rain fell at times when we did not expect it, and at times when we expected rainfall, it did not come. In some parts of the country, rainfall did not occur the way it used to. These are all impacts of climate change that we are experiencing,” James said. With the off-season rainfall, he noted that Nigeria, including Nigerians, should brace up for likely unusual rain and heat. “Not only unusual rainfall. We should also expect unusual heat. There is likely to be a rise in temperature beyond what we consider normal, and there is also the likelihood of heavier rainfall than what we used to experience. “Either of these can occur, or both can occur, because climate conditions are no longer predictable. We cannot really predict them again,” he said. The director of environmental service maintained that the unpredictability of the weather was responsible for many outcomes of predictions by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency, where weather changes despite different predictions. “Sometimes you listen to NiMET, and they say it is going to be hazy, or it is going to be rainy, or it is going to be dry. But you later discover that though what the NiMET equipment picked was right, what was predicted did not happen, and something else occurred instead. “So, we are likely to experience both extreme heat and rainfall. The early warning signs are already here. The heavy rainfall we experienced in January and early February is an early warning sign that we need to prepare for heavier rainfall this year. These signs are already present. “Another early warning sign is the unusual heat we are already experiencing. We are beginning to get used to it, but it is not normal. It is an early warning sign that extreme heat is coming,” James said. He, however, urged the government and individuals to ensure adequate preparedness in mitigating the impact of the weather conditions. “Flooding will come. It is part of climate change. The question is not whether flooding will occur, but how prepared we are to ensure that it does not have devastating effects on us. That should be our main concern,” he said. Also speaking, a public health physician, Prof Adebayo Onajole, explained that with the situation across the world, the country may likely experience unusual weather conditions. “Given what is happening across the world, yes, we may experience unusual rainfall in certain areas. We may also experience increased dryness in other areas. “These are the effects of what we refer to as climate variability, and these changes have direct impacts on atmospheric conditions globally,” he said. The don noted that both weather conditions have a direct impact on public health. “When there is increased rainfall, there is usually an increase in disease occurrence because there will be more bodies of water. If temperatures rise, the rate of reproduction of disease vectors also increases. As a result, diseases transmitted by vectors become more common. All these factors are interconnected and relate directly to human life,” he said. According to him, if there is an expectation of increased rainfall, flooding is likely, and disease outbreaks may follow. He urged the government and Nigerians to plan to mitigate the impact of climate change. Also speaking with THENEWSCREDIT, the President of the Africa Environmental Health Organisation, Afolabi Abiodun, said the government must up its emergency and disaster response. Afolabi Abiodun Afolabi Abiodun He urged them to review the design and maintenance of drainage systems. Abiodun also urged Nigerians to desist from blocking drainage channels. “Overall, maintenance of drainage systems must be improved to accommodate increasing volumes of water. Rivers and waterways also need to be properly managed. Flooding has become frequent, and government response has often been inadequate. What is needed is preparedness, clear emergency response plans, proactive infrastructure maintenance, and timely intervention before disasters occur. “The government must be ready to respond both before and after flooding events, with practical measures in place to protect lives and property,” Abiodun said.

ABUBAKAR Abdullahi, one of the seven suspects arrested by the Oyo State Police Command in connection with the attack on and killing of five forest rangers at the National Park Service office in Oloka Village, has revealed how he was invited by one Mohammed Dangi, whom he described as the second-in-command of the bandit gang, to participate in the deadly operation aimed at freeing three Fulani herders earlier arrested for an offence yet to be disclosed. A look at the suspect’s petite figure, tiny face and youthful appearance could easily make him pass for an innocent boy who would not hurt a fly. Beneath that exterior, however, is a young man proficient in handling AK-47 rifles, shooting with precision and confidence. The five forest rangers were killed on Tuesday, January 6 2026, at the National Forest Rangers’ office in Oloka Village, Ikoyi Ile, Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State. The attackers, said to be about 10 in number and armed with sophisticated firearms, reportedly invaded the Old Oyo National Park office at about 9pm and launched a deadly assault on the rangers. Not satisfied with the killing of the five forest rangers, one of whom was burnt beyond recognition, the assailants also went away with two FNC rifles and three motorcycles, while two other motorcycles were set ablaze. Confirming the arrest of the suspects in a statement, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Olayinka Ayanlade, disclosed that following the attack, the Monitoring Unit of the command, led by its commander, CSP Ayodeji Adepetu, was directed by the Commissioner of Police, Femi Haruna, to take over the investigation. According to him, intelligence-driven operations led to the initial arrest of three suspects, followed by four others, bringing the total number arrested to seven. The suspects include Mohammed Dangi, said to be the gang’s coordinator; Abubakar Abdullahi, Sheu Usman, Toro Malami, Usman Alhaji Umaru, Laolo Muhammadu and Usman Alhaji Isah. Speaking in an interview, Abubakar, a Fulani man who claimed Yahuri in Kebbi State as his place of origin but said he resides in B’Olorunduro, Ogbomoso, stated that he was a herder who also engaged in kidnapping alongside other members of the gang. “I don’t know how long I have been in B’Olorunduro. I herded cows from Bode Saadu in Kwara State down there,” he said. Explaining what led to the attack on the forest rangers and how the operation was carried out, Abubakar disclosed: “It was Mohammed Dangi who invited me. He instructed me and others to kill all the people we saw at the park office. The reason he gave was that three Fulani herders had been arrested. He told us to set our three men free after killing the forest rangers. After killing those rangers, we released our people and took them away. “I did not know when the idea was first discussed, but I joined the gang on the day we went to carry out the attack.” On how the gang gained access to the park office, which is surrounded by thick bush, without being detected before striking, he said: “We were 10 in number. We went with five motorcycles and five AK-47 rifles. Two of us rode each motorcycle. We also carried explosives. We parked the motorcycles far away and quietly trekked to the park office.” He identified one Bello, currently at large, as the leader of the gang, stating that Mohammed served as the executor of Bello’s directives. “Bello and I once lived together in Bode Saadu, but I don’t know where he is now. He only gave instructions to Mohammed and did not come with us to Oloka Village. He was the one who gave Mohammed the AK-47 rifles we used. Bello usually joined us during kidnap operations,” he said. On how long he had been involved in kidnapping, Abubakar said he could not remember, noting that he had been doing it for a long time. He recalled participating in kidnappings in Oloka Village and Bode Saadu, adding: “Whenever I was called for a kidnap operation, I always went.” Despite his involvement in what the gang considered a means of livelihood, Abubakar said his share of ransom from kidnapping operations was always N10,000. When pressed to speak the truth, he swore by Allah that he had never received more than that amount. A security source corroborated his claim, explaining that members of kidnap gangs, bandits and terrorist groups are often subjected to extreme exploitation by their leaders. “From our experience during investigations, we have learned that even when they rustle cattle, they may give one cow to five people and still compel them to sell it back to the leader at a ridiculously low price, sometimes not more than N40,000. They dare not protest or ask questions, except they want to die. The leader also does not pay cash; instead, he tells them to collect goods and direct traders to him for payment. That is the kind of slavery they gullibly submit themselves to,” the source said. Asked how he became skilled in handling an AK-47 rifle despite his small stature, Abubakar said, smiling: “I was trained by Mohammed Dangi. I know how to use the rifle very well.” On whether the gang killed kidnap victims whose families could not afford ransom, he said it was the leaders who made such decisions. “It is not my wish to kidnap people, but Mohammed is my relative. I grew up with him, and he made me join the gang,” he added. DSP Ayanlade stated that operatives of the Monitoring Unit, in collaboration with other security agencies, are intensifying efforts to track down the remaining suspects and bring them to justice.

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike on Saturday rained curses on politicians he perceived as backing those betraying him. The minister spoke while commissioning the Rivers State chapter of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors’ office in Port Harcourt. He said senators and members of the House of Representatives supporting the betrayal will also be betrayed in due course. According to him, when such politicians will receive their own portion of the betrayal, they “will collapse and go”. Wike said, “Whether you are a senator, House of Reps member, minister or governor, and you support betrayals, people will continue to betray you in life. Betrayal is your portion. “The day you will be betrayed, you will not have mouth to say anything. There you will collapse and go and they will announce that so so person has died. “That is the seed you have planted and whatever you plant, you will reap. Since you are planting betrayal, betrayal will follow you everywhere. “Every governor who is doing the second tenure, governor who has ambition to put a successor and is supporting betrayal, you will never survive it.”

A Ndola-based woman in Zambia, who claims that a member of parliament, Bowman Lusambo, fathered her four children has submitted that there is a high likelihood that the Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) test to ascertain the children’s paternity may be tampered with. Mercy Cowham, in an affidavit filed in the Lusaka High Court in support of Lusambo’s application for the four children to undergo DNA tests, stated that while she did not wish to oppose the application for a paternity test, she was deeply concerned about the safety and security of the DNA samples and where they would be taken for testing. According Zambia Observer, Mercy stated that there was a high likelihood that the same may be tampered with, given the media attention this matter has attracted and the many parties interested in the outcome of the case. “In the premises, to ensure protection of DNA samples and entire DNA testing process, I am of the view that the same should be a court-supervised DNA test where neither myself nor the plaintiff will know the laboratory chosen to conduct the DNA test, except the court and the results will only be communicated directly to the court,” Mercy stated. She added that she was agreeable to a paternity test to be carried out as it would help prove that Lusambo is the father to her children. “I am willing to contribute towards the expense of the DNA test, which expense can be communicated to the parties by the court once the court has appointed the institution(s) that will conduct the DNA test,” Mercy stated. And Mercy stated that it was not true that Lusambo did not know her at all because they have known each other for a very long time now. “I have been in an on-and-off s3xual relationship with the plaintiff from 2014 to date and it was during this time that the four children I have with the plaintiff were conceived,” she said. “During the subsistence of our relationship, the plaintiff and I would meet at Ngweshi Lodge in Ndola but sometime in 2017, the plaintiff rented a house for me in Kansenshi and Ndeke area in Ndola and he would occasionally visit me.” Last month, Lusambo filed an affidavit in support of an application for a paternity test. He stated that a DNA test was the only sure way that the paternity of the children would be ascertained and prayed that the order for DNA be granted in the interest of justice.