Mother still waits for baby’s remains six months after crocodile attack

A grieving mother from Kamutjonga village in Kavango East is still waiting for the remains of her nine-month-old son, nearly six months after he was snatched by a crocodile along the Kavango River.

Annastasia Nyiru (24) lost her baby on 29 September 2025 while doing laundry along the riverbank near Divindu. She told Namibian Sun that the crocodile struck suddenly, seizing the infant who was close to her.

Nyiru was also injured, suffering wounds to her thigh and buttocks as she tried to fend off the animal.

Following the attack, the crocodile suspected of killing her son was shot and killed.

Authorities later recovered bones believed to belong to the infant, and DNA samples were taken to confirm their identity.

Months after the tragedy, Nyiru says her family has still not been able to bury the child, as the remains believed to be his have not been released.

“The pain is still there because we have not been able to bury my baby,” she said, adding that the lack of closure has made it difficult for the family to come to terms with the loss.

Nyiru said the drawn-out process has left her emotionally drained and frustrated, particularly as the family has received little to no feedback.

“The whole process has been draining. There is no feedback from the ministry, and we are starting to suspect that the bones found in the crocodile are not those of my baby,” she said.

She cooperated fully with authorities, she said, by submitting the required documents to the environment ministry, but is still waiting for confirmation on the identification of the remains.

“I just want to bury my child,” she said.

For Nyiru, the most urgent concern is not financial aid but the return of her child’s remains so the family can give him a proper burial.

Slow process

Ministry spokesperson Vilho Hangula told Namibian Sun that the ministry provides payment to support families affected by wildlife-related injuries or fatalities, with fatal incidents qualifying for N$100 000.

He emphasised, however, that Nyiru’s case remains subject to procedural processes, including police investigations and forensic examinations, which must be completed before any decision on the remains or compensation can be made.

“These procedures are necessary to ensure accuracy before any remains are released and any assistance provided,” he said.

He explained further that two parallel investigations are taking place: one by the ministry and another by the Namibian Police, and both must be concluded before a final decision can be made.

Hangula also addressed the role of forensic authorities in such cases.

“I’m not sure if the ministry is the one that keeps the remains. I’m thinking it’s the police and that it is still with the forensic colleagues,” he said.

He stressed that delays are often due to processes outside the ministry’s control.

“If the delay is coming from outside the ministry, for instance from the forensic colleagues under the police, there is really little action we can take on our part to make the process go faster.”