OSHAKATI – A 30-year-old man has been arrested for allegedly hacking his 94-year-old uncle to death and seriously injuring his 17-year-old cousin at Onekwaya West on Monday.

Warrant Officer Andrew Nghiyolwa of the Namibian Police Force’s Community Policing Sub-division in the Ohangwena Region told Nampa the incident occurred around 10h00.

The deceased elder has been identified as Josua Kirus, while the injured survivor is Kirus Nghishonwa, the suspect’s younger cousin, who also lived at the deceased’s homestead.

The suspect allegedly also vandalised a local State clinic.

Nghiyolwa indicated that the apparent motive behind the alleged attacks stems from the suspect’s belief that his uncle and cousin had poisoned him with pork the previous day.

It is alleged that the suspect initially attacked his cousin, shooting him in the back of the head with an arrow and inflicting a deep cut.
“The victim managed to flee into the mahangu field along with his uncle.

However, the suspect reportedly pursued them, caught up with his uncle and brutally assaulted him with a panga, inflicting multiple fatal head and face injuries,” he said.

Kirus died at the scene, while Nghishonwa sought refuge at the Onekwaya State Clinic, where he also received medical attention.

Nghiyolwa noted that the suspect allegedly followed his injured cousin to the clinic and when clinic staff locked the doors, he reportedly damaged all four windows before eventually leaving and returning home.

He is currently receiving treatment at Oshakati State Hospital for a serious head injury and is expected to face serious charges, including murder read with the provisions of the Domestic Violence Act 4 of 2003, attempted murder read with the same provisions, and malicious damage to State property.

Police investigations into the matter are ongoing.-Nampa