ONHUNO – What was supposed to be a regular roadblock patrol at the Onhuno roadblock turned ugly, with one person losing his life.
The family of 38-year-old Shilongo Eliud Hamukwaya, who was allegedly shot and killed by the police at the Onhuno roadblock, demands answers regarding the circumstances leading to his killing.
Shilongo was reportedly shot while seated in a truck.
The incident occurred on Sunday night around 23h00 as Hamukwaya was returning from Oshikango in a truck carrying bags of mahangu.
When New Era visited her home in Omungwelume, the victim’s mother Loide Shilomboleni said her son was the family’s breadwinner.
She expressed deep sorrow over his sudden death, especially since he was unarmed.
“I was informed by neighbours around 02h00. I could not believe what had happened. He was my only son,” the distraught mother, still coming to terms with the loss, said.
Shilomboleni said she is now left with only one daughter, having already lost three of her children.
“It’s not easy for a mother to lose her son in such a manner. Inspector General Joseph Shikongo must get involved in this matter,” she demanded.
Venting her disappointment, she said police officers are supposed to protect the public, yet now they are the ones killing innocent people.
Neighbours described Hamukwaya as a peaceful and disciplined young man, who always assisted the community’s most vulnerable, especially pensioners.
Witnesses
Community members who witnessed the incident said several bullet holes were visible on the truck where Hamukwaya was allegedly seated at the time of the shooting.
They were left in shock, with some members breaking into tears as they witnessed the deceased’s remains being removed from the truck.
Shedding light on the incident, Theophilius Willem, acting regional commander for Ohangwena, confirmed the incident.
A report will be released once the investigation is complete, the officer stated.
It is alleged that Hamukwaya was travelling with a colleague, who was driving the truck at the time.
A reliable source said when they arrived at the roadblock, the main driver went into the charge office, leaving Hmaukwaya seated in the truck.
The source stated that when the colleague returned, he found Hamukwaya dead in the passenger seat.
Contradiction
A detailed statement issued by the police yesterday seems to contradict this version.
Police spokesperson Kauna Shikwambi said that on Sunday at about 22h00 at the Onhuno Road Traffic Checkpoint (RTCP), the driver of a Scania truck, who was allegedly with a co-driver, was driving in the southern direction via the RTCP.
He was stopped by the officer on duty, who requested the driver’s licence and weighbridge documents.
Shikwambi said the driver provided only a driver’s licence, and failed to produce the weighbridge paper(s) to the police officer on duty.
“Consequently, the officer allegedly requested the driver to park his truck alongside the road, as he couldn’t proceed without the said weighbridge document. The driver adhered to the instruction. After he parked his truck, he came back to collect his driver’s licence.
“Allegedly, while the driver was still talking with the police officer, the co-driver joined them. However, they started arguing with the police officer, to which the officer then instructed them to drive back to the weighbridge as per the procedure,” Shikwambi narrated.
She continued: “He went to the truck and made a U-turn, facing a northern direction, and parked the truck alongside the road. He [Hamukwaya] then returned to where the main driver and police officer were, and allegedly started insulting/using vulgar language towards the officer on duty, claiming that he has a tendency of stopping him at the RTCP”.
“A fight erupted. The main driver allegedly separated them. Subsequently, the co-driver jumped into the truck and allegedly drove it straight towards a female officer who was on the road manning the checkpoint and trying to stop him.
The officer fled from the road for her safety. In the process, the male police officer took a firearm and fired towards the truck. Unfortunately, a bullet struck the deceased in the stomach, and ge died on the spot. The suspect is a Sergeant Class 2, a 43-year-old Namibian male”, Shikwambi added.
The sergeant has since been arrested.
Police investigations continue.