Four poachers killed since December
Four suspected poachers have been shot dead, and three wounded, by anti-poaching officers since the end December.
All these incidents occurred in the Bwabwata National Park where a task force comprised of the environment, defence and safety and security ministries have boots on the ground to combat poaching.
In the latest incident, a suspected poacher was shot dead, two were wounded and another was arrested unharmed after a shootout in the Bwabwata National Park on Friday evening.
According to Deputy Commissioner William Peter of the Elephant Anti-Poaching Unit in the Bwabwata National Park the incident occurred when members of the anti-poaching unit heard shots fired in the park and came across the suspected poachers in the Kongola area.
“They found them and the poachers then started firing on the anti-poaching operatives,” he said.
According to Peter the suspected poachers had two firearms which they used to shoot at the patrol. There were no casualties among the officers.
The suspect who was uninjured was the only one who appeared in court yesterday. Musilwa Putsu (61) appeared before the Katima Mulilo Magistrate's Court and was denied bail.
According to state prosecutor George Matali, Putsu was charged with three counts - entering a national park without permission, possession of firearms without a licence and possession of ammunition without a licence.
He will appear in court again on 27 April.
The details of the other suspects are not known yet.
Peter appealed to the public to refrain from this type of unlawful activity.
“We also appeal to the community to give information which may lead to the arrest of illegal hunters and those in possession of firearms and ammunition that are mostly used to commit these types of crimes against the regional and local environments.”
In other recent incidents a suspected poacher was killed in a shootout with an anti-poaching unit in the Bwabwata National Park on 19 December. Three suspects managed to escape. They were armed with hunting rifles.
Two more poachers were shot and killed on 28 December in the Bwabwata National Park while three others were arrested and one seriously injured.
The alleged poachers were found in possession of an AK-47 assault rifle, 25 rounds of ammunition and a homemade silencer.
The shootings came after environment minister Pohamba Shifeta announced that the police had been ordered to shoot suspected poachers in self-defence.
“Poachers shooting at anti-poaching units will regret doing so if they ever survive the firepower of our well-trained special units,” he said.
ELLANIE SMIT
All these incidents occurred in the Bwabwata National Park where a task force comprised of the environment, defence and safety and security ministries have boots on the ground to combat poaching.
In the latest incident, a suspected poacher was shot dead, two were wounded and another was arrested unharmed after a shootout in the Bwabwata National Park on Friday evening.
According to Deputy Commissioner William Peter of the Elephant Anti-Poaching Unit in the Bwabwata National Park the incident occurred when members of the anti-poaching unit heard shots fired in the park and came across the suspected poachers in the Kongola area.
“They found them and the poachers then started firing on the anti-poaching operatives,” he said.
According to Peter the suspected poachers had two firearms which they used to shoot at the patrol. There were no casualties among the officers.
The suspect who was uninjured was the only one who appeared in court yesterday. Musilwa Putsu (61) appeared before the Katima Mulilo Magistrate's Court and was denied bail.
According to state prosecutor George Matali, Putsu was charged with three counts - entering a national park without permission, possession of firearms without a licence and possession of ammunition without a licence.
He will appear in court again on 27 April.
The details of the other suspects are not known yet.
Peter appealed to the public to refrain from this type of unlawful activity.
“We also appeal to the community to give information which may lead to the arrest of illegal hunters and those in possession of firearms and ammunition that are mostly used to commit these types of crimes against the regional and local environments.”
In other recent incidents a suspected poacher was killed in a shootout with an anti-poaching unit in the Bwabwata National Park on 19 December. Three suspects managed to escape. They were armed with hunting rifles.
Two more poachers were shot and killed on 28 December in the Bwabwata National Park while three others were arrested and one seriously injured.
The alleged poachers were found in possession of an AK-47 assault rifle, 25 rounds of ammunition and a homemade silencer.
The shootings came after environment minister Pohamba Shifeta announced that the police had been ordered to shoot suspected poachers in self-defence.
“Poachers shooting at anti-poaching units will regret doing so if they ever survive the firepower of our well-trained special units,” he said.
ELLANIE SMIT
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