Chicken-stealing neighbour arrested

KENYA KAMBOWE

The Omusati police have arrested a 25-year-old man from Omagalanga village in the Oshikuku constituency who allegedly stole and slaughtered about 20 chickens belonging to his neighbour.

According to the regional police spokesperson, Linekela Shikongo, the suspect was arrested on Sunday and was expected to appear before the Oshakati magistrate’s court yesterday.

Shikongo said the suspect was arrested after the complainant, Aina Shiwana (69), opened a theft case on Friday.

It is alleged that the suspect, who has permission to fetch water from the complainant’s house, used the visits as an opportunity to steal a live chicken when he returned home. He then killed and ate them.

Shiwana noticed that her chickens were becoming fewer and on 1 September she and her family decided to follow the footprints, which led to the suspect’s house.

Shikongo said the suspect initially denied any wrongdoing but when he was threatened with the police he admitted guilt and showed the complainant where he had buried the feathers.

The value of the chickens is said to be around N$1 660.

Chicken theft is said to be a common crime in northern Namibia.