A 38-year-old man was on Tuesday accidentally shot and killed at Shinyungwe village in the Kavango East Region by officials from the Namibian Defence Force (NDF) who were trying to shoot a buffalo calf, the Namibian Police Force has said.

The incident occurred around 11h30, the Crime Investigations Coordinator for the Kavango East Region, Bonifatius Kanyetu, told Nampa on Wednesday.

It is alleged that members of the community observed a buffalo calf grazing with herd of cattle and reported the incident to the Ministry of Environment and Tourism officials due to their fear of spread of the foot and mouth disease.

According to Kanyetu, the ministry intervened by deploying the NDF special forces to track and shoot the animal.

Kanyetu said the incident attracted members of the community to scene, adding that when the NDF shot the buffalo, the bullet went through it and struck a member of the community who was believed to be behind bushes.

The man sustained serious injuries in his abdomen and died upon arrival at the Nyangana District Hospital.

His next of kin have been informed and no one has been arrested as police investigations continue.

Kanyetu said the case has been referred to the office of the Prosecutor General for a decision on the way forward.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency