12 people from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) were detained by the Mchinji Border Immigration on Sunday when they entered the country illegally.

The Congolese, seven children and five adults were found at Kaombe Village in Traditional Authority Mlonyeni on Saturday night looking for a place to settle when the community policing apprehended and reported them to the Immigration officials.

Mchinji Border Immigration Public Relations Officer Andida Mando told Malawi News Agency (Mana) that the Congolese told the officers that they were seeking asylum after fleeing from their country.

“The leader of the group Kapili Kiwele, told us that their compound in Kasumbalesa southern part of DRC was raided by unknown soldiers who captured and beat them but they managed to escape, and a truck driver picked them up to Chipata in Zambia,” Mando said.

He said the seven then started looking for a place to stay until they reached Kaombe Village near the border within Zambia, saying they have since been referred to Dzaleka refugee camp.