Ex-governor critical after attack
ILENI NANDJATO
The former governor of the Omusati Region, Leonard Nangolo Mukwiilongo, is still in a critical condition in a private hospital in the north, three weeks after he was attacked at his Elim residence.
The 92-year-old Mukwiilongo was tortured and assaulted by six robbers who demanded from him the keys to his safe.
According to his son, Tshatipamba, the six armed men arrived at his father’s house on 11 April at around 11:00 in the morning and found Mukwiilongo and a maid sitting outside.
The robbers allegedly forced them inside the house where they demanded money.
“They blindfolded my father and the maid and started demanding the safe keys. He refused to hand it over to them. They set fire to plastic bags and started torturing him. He was later hit in the head with a pistol,” he said. According to Tshatipamba, the robbers locked Mukwiilongo and the maid inside the room and tried to flee with the safe.
“The safe was too heavy and while they were struggling to load it onto their car the maid managed to untie herself and helped to untie my father. She escaped from the room through the window and ran for help. When the robbers saw the maid running, they fled and left the safe behind.”
Omusati police spokesperson Anna Kunga told Namibian Sun that three of the suspects had been arrested and had appeared before the Oshakati Magistrate’s Court.
They are Wilhelm Nakale (41), Stefanus Namupala (35) and Abraham Ashipena (26). They were denied bail and the case was postponed to 31 May.
“The police investigation continues and we are still looking for the other three suspects,” Kunga said.
Mukwiilongo’s nephew, Epafras Mukwiilongo, said his uncle deserved state security by virtue of being a former governor. “These are prominent people in the communities who need protection all the time. Now this is what is happening since the government abandoned them,” Epafras said.
The former governor of the Omusati Region, Leonard Nangolo Mukwiilongo, is still in a critical condition in a private hospital in the north, three weeks after he was attacked at his Elim residence.
The 92-year-old Mukwiilongo was tortured and assaulted by six robbers who demanded from him the keys to his safe.
According to his son, Tshatipamba, the six armed men arrived at his father’s house on 11 April at around 11:00 in the morning and found Mukwiilongo and a maid sitting outside.
The robbers allegedly forced them inside the house where they demanded money.
“They blindfolded my father and the maid and started demanding the safe keys. He refused to hand it over to them. They set fire to plastic bags and started torturing him. He was later hit in the head with a pistol,” he said. According to Tshatipamba, the robbers locked Mukwiilongo and the maid inside the room and tried to flee with the safe.
“The safe was too heavy and while they were struggling to load it onto their car the maid managed to untie herself and helped to untie my father. She escaped from the room through the window and ran for help. When the robbers saw the maid running, they fled and left the safe behind.”
Omusati police spokesperson Anna Kunga told Namibian Sun that three of the suspects had been arrested and had appeared before the Oshakati Magistrate’s Court.
They are Wilhelm Nakale (41), Stefanus Namupala (35) and Abraham Ashipena (26). They were denied bail and the case was postponed to 31 May.
“The police investigation continues and we are still looking for the other three suspects,” Kunga said.
Mukwiilongo’s nephew, Epafras Mukwiilongo, said his uncle deserved state security by virtue of being a former governor. “These are prominent people in the communities who need protection all the time. Now this is what is happening since the government abandoned them,” Epafras said.
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