WINDHOEK – Martha Ilonga, 20, a student nurse who was allegedly shot by the police last week died in hospital on Wednesday night.
Businessman Desmond Amunyela, a cousin of Ilonga, confirmed her passing yesterday.
“It was an accident,” said Amunyela in describing the tragic incident.
Ilonga’s family visited New Era offices this week and demanded justice in the matter, including a thorough investigation.
The police allegedly shot Ilonga, who was studying at the Namibia Health Training Centre in Windhoek, in the head while she was seated in the backseat of a Toyota Corolla sedan last week Thursday.
The student nurse was being driven home to Goreangab residential area in Katutura, where she rented a room, family members related to New Era on Monday.
According to the driver of the ill-fated vehicle, Titus Shuuveni, the incident happened when he was escorting Ilonga home with his friend. The friend then received a phone call from someone who wanted them to drive to where he was.
“We went there immediately. While driving, my friend told me to stop, and then he went out towards a white Polo Vivo that was parked along the road. My friend told me to get out and also go to the Polo,” Shuuveni said on Monday.
Shuuveni said suddenly from nowhere he saw a police officer emerge, handcuff his friend and ordered them (Shuuveni and Ilonga) to drive off.
The police had allegedly been lying in ambush in what seemed like a police trap, whereby the Polo Vivo was used to bait his friend, according to Shuuveni.
Shuuveni said: “When I drove off, I heard a gunshot and Ilonga screaming. When I looked back she was shot in the head and I was surrounded by police vehicles. The police then handcuffed me and took me to the Wanaheda Police Station for custody,” said Shuuveni.
Apparently another police officer had mistakenly assumed the Toyota Corolla in which Shuuveni and Martha drove off, was speeding away from the police.
Inspector Slogan Matheus from the Police Public Relations Department said the police were investigating the incident.
The police were apparently on the lookout for a vehicle similar to the one in which the student nurse was seated. The vehicle was allegedly involved in a robbery earlier in the week.