Festus, Nigeria

I had notice that my wife started acting strangely and to be honest, I was quite indifferent about it because I thought it was one of those things you’ll come around for. Then one weekend, I got a random visit from a very strange man. I wouldn’t have cared at first but the way my wife’s disposition changed when he appeared. He claimed to be the father of my daughter and I was so stunned. I angrily left home and told him that I do not want to see him when I get back. I also took my daughter along with me. And left him with my wife so they could resolve anything between them.

But as I left angrily, my head circled around what was going on and I started putting two and two together. I left home with my daughter for one week and I came home only because my in-laws intervened and required my presence.

It was during the meeting that my wife confessed that my daughter isn’t mine. I’d never felt as much hurt as I did that day in my entire life. It felt like my world was ending. I started thinking of many things, I could have cheated on my wife and had a child out of wedlock but I didn’t, despite the fact that my wife can only bear one child due to her health issues. I just wanted one family.

What hurt me the most was my wife’s family urging me to release my daughter to her father. I didn’t oblige and if he wants to drag me to court, he should. That girl is my life and I’ve trained her and watched her grow to her teenage years. I’m her father and no stranger can take her from me. If he wants my daughter, he has to pay me every penny that I’ve spent on her and return all my emotional investment too. I’ve labored over my daughter and I must eat the fruit of my labor.

Akeem

Although I haven’t done any DNA test on my second child yet but I know he’s not mine. He doesn’t look like me at all and everyone around us has always inferred, although mostly couched as a joke that he looks like our neighbor who’s an Alfa. I’m saving up money for a dna test because the head of that boy is not the way my ancestors head are shaped, plus his attitude is just very irrational.

ShayoFunmi, Nigeria

I’m a product of paternity fraud and it hurts me so much. I used to hate my mom before but I’ve learned to forgive her. My real father is an alcoholic and he never really cared for me, but my paternal father was a very cool man until he found out I wasn’t his. He threw me out of the house and cut off all his spending on me. I’d never felt so betrayed. I understand how he felt but a part of me feels like he could have handled it better. He just treated me like I was nobody and like I didn’t exist. Even on my wedding day, he didn’t show up even though I begged some extended family members to persuade him to come. I really want my father back and I hope he finds it in his heart to forgive my mom for what she did to us. If what happened hadn't occurred, I'd have wanted him to my father in my next life.