State funeral for Oshiko cop

The late Sergeant Aina Magano Iikela, 42, was laid to rest at her home village of Oshilulu near Etilyasa in Okahoa constituency of Omusati Region this past weekend.Iileka died while on duty at Oshiko police check point after she was hit by a vehicle allegedly driven by a 22-year-old unlicensed driver who then fled from the police.Iikela was also a part-time student at the International University of Management (IUM) at Ongwediva. She died on 15 June, the day she resumed her duties at work after returning from two weeks of study leave.Oshana police held a memorial service at the Oshiko police check point last week Wednesday in remembrance of the late Iileka. According to Deputy Commissioner Hilja Haipumbu, the Oshana police have arrested Erastus Tashiya in connection with Iileka's death. He has already appeared before the Oshakati Magistrate's Court and his case was postponed to 1 September. He faces several charges including murder, driving under the influence of alcohol, driving a motor vehicle without a driver's licence and failing to assist an injured person. He was remanded in custody.Haipumbu said Tashiya is alleged to have stolen the bakkie from the family home at Aafoti near Onaanda in Omusati Region.He was being pursued by police when he hit Iikela who was standing on the roadside. She was killed instantly. During the memorial service, the commander for Oshiko police, Inspector Benjamin Hophin, said Iileka reported for duty with other members at 14:00.“She was the second in-charge at the road block during for the shift. I briefed them before I left. At around 20:00 I received a call that there was a fatal accident at the check point and it had claimed the life of one of our members. It was very sad to learn that she was on the roadside when the car hit her,” Hophin said.Sergeant Dornatus Paulus who was on duty with Iileka that day said that he was not at the check point when the accident happened, but he had informed the team about a speeding vehicle heading in their direction that was being pursued by the police and asked them to stop manning the road.“It was announced on our radio that a car, reported stolen in Omusati, was spotted in Oshana and it was driving toward Ondangwa. When it passed Ongwediva heading the check point I communicated to members at the check point to vacate the road because the car was being driven recklessly,” Paulus said.It is reported that the speeding vehicle first hit a stationary bakkie that was standing at the check point for inspection before it went onto the roadside where Iileka was standing.The late Iileka joined the Namibian police in 2011. Iileka started her career in Otjozondjupa Region where she worked under the special field force unit. In 2013 she was transferred to Omusati Region. After she enrolled at IUM in 2015 she was transferred to Ongwediva.In February this year, Iileka started working at Oshiko police check point. The governor for Oshana Region, Clemens Kashuupulwa, expressed concern about the safety of police officers at Oshiko check point. In July 2011, the same check point claimed the life of Constable Albertina Naambo Uugwanga who was also hit by a vehicle while on duty.“This is the second incident at the same check point. Our attitudes as drivers are not good and we must think twice about this. Motorists must exercise caution when approaching. It is also high time that we erect speed hump here so that this will never happen again,” Kashuupulwa. ILENI NANDJATO

State funeral for Oshiko cop

Comments

Namibian Sun 2026-05-06

Please login to leave a comment

State funeral for Oshiko cop

Comments

Namibian Sun 2026-05-06

Please login to leave a comment

Subscription Required to Access Content ×

Login

Subscription Required to Access Content