OKAPYA – An eight-year-old girl died a horrific death after she and two other children ran away from home to hide in the bush after they allegedly stole chicken feet that were to be sold.
The deceased was identified as Anna Angula from Okapya village in the Oshana region. Her nine-year-old cousin is said to be battling for his life at the Onandjokwe Hospital, while her 10-year-old cousin did not suffer the aftermath of the ordeal.
According to the police, the deceased and the two boys ran away because they were scared that they would be beaten for stealing. They then decided to overnight along some palm shrubs near a graveyard, around seven kilometres away from their homestead.
Around 05h00, the 10-year-old boy allegedly decided to go back home, leaving the younger ones behind.
When New Era visited the homestead on Monday, the deceased’s mother Helaria Kalenga (36) narrated that she is saddened by the death of her daughter.
She was only alerted about her daughter’s disappearance on Friday morning when her brother came to her house.
“We decided to report the matter to the police, and later went to the radio station to give a public announcement on air,” Kalenga said.
Before they could reach the radio station, she was informed about the gruesome discovery.
“Someone called to tell me that two children were found in the bush –one was dead, and another one was in a critical condition. When we went there, it was indeed our children,” she said woefully.
“I initially gave my daughter to my brother to raise her because he told me that he needed a girl. She was my second child, and now I am only left with three children,” Kalenga added.
Also speaking to New Era was one of the relatives on the deceased’s father’s side, who said she is disappointed by the way the family is handling things.
“We came here on Friday, but still nobody told us the story of what caused the children to run away. All we are hearing are just different versions. It looks like the family is hiding something from us,” she complained.
The guardians, who are the owners of the house and parents of the surviving boys, were not at home at that time. They allegedly went to town, while the wife, who is the mother of the two boys, is at the Onandjokwe hospital and taking care of the boy who is admitted.