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Namibia: Villager Killed in Buffalo Shooting Accident



7 OCTOBER 2021

New Era (Windhoek)

Rundu — A 38-year-old man tragically died Tuesday morning after he was shot allegedly by an environment ministry official who was attempting to put down a buffalo calf along the Kavango River.

The unfortunate event occurred at Shinyungwe village in the Ndiyona constituency of Kavango East region.

According to preliminary reports, a bullet caught and wounded villager Katiki Patrick Haushiku who at the time had sought cover between the reeds along the Kavango River.

The victim initially sustained serious injuries to the abdomen and waist before he was rushed to the Nyangana district hospital where he succumbed upon arrival.



"The shooting was on Tuesday morning around 11h30 at the Shinyungwe floodplains area," said Kavango East crime investigations coordinator Deputy Commissioner Bonifatius Kanyetu.

According to the police, community members reported seeing a buffalo calf in their cattle herd in the past few days.

The matter was since reported to the environment ministry for intervention.

"The ministry acted to the report to secure the situation by deploying the team which consisted of Namibian Defence Force (NDF) special forces. In the process of tracking the very buffalo calf, they managed to trace it and shot it with the G3 rifle," said Kanyetu.

"One of the bullets penetrated through and struck a member of the community in the eastern direction who was believed to have been hiding behind the thick reeds."

According to Kanyetu, the suspected official is yet to be arrested as police investigations continue. The environment ministry yesterday promised to issue a statement on the matter. However, at the time of going to print yesterday, New Era had not seen the statement.

"Hiding behind the thick reeds". Well there you go.

Namibian Defense Force called in to shoot a Buffalo calf? Shit show.

With FMJ 308, no less.

Well, it must not have been a baby calf or the herders could have dealt with it easy enough themselves. Must have been big enough that they were afraid of it. Obviously got lost from it's herd and took up with another species of bovine for company. They probably could have left it alone and everything would have been alright. Shooting someone hiding in the thick reeds sounds more like a tragic accident than an arrest worthy offense.

quote:

Originally posted by fairgame:
Namibian Defense Force called in to shoot a Buffalo calf? Shit show.

Having seen the spray and pray approach in action, I concur.