RUNDU – A suspected poacher was shot dead in a crossfire with the anti-poaching unit in the Bwabwata National Park and police officers on Saturday.

The Namibian police in Kavango East region in a media report said the suspect was shot between 9h00 and 10h00 at Thindrevu in the Mahango core area of the park.

A team of the police’s serious crime unit was sent to the park to investigate, said Kavango East Police acting regional commander Lucia Kahure.

“It’s alleged that gunshots were heard in the park the previous night, which prompted operatives to patrol the area – and while they were on foot patrol, fresh footprints were tracked – and later, there was a crossfire between the suspected poacher and the operatives,” said Kahure.

She added the suspected poacher was shot in the stomach and died on the spot.

It is not clear whether the shot that killed the suspected poacher came from the police or a member of the anti-poaching unit who was patrolling the park.

“He is not yet identified; we have no name or any known nationality but his body was taken to the Andara hospital mortuary. At this point, I can’t point out where the shot that killed him came from. We still need to take the bullet or round for forensic investigation to determine the gun used. It’s still under investigation to determine from which side the bullet came from, and we cannot make a statement from which firearm the shot came from,” said Kahure, who could also not determine if the suspected poacher was alone or with others.

- jmunyamba@nepc.com.na