There were horror scenes in Gwanda when a man killed his five-year-old maternal niece after striking her with an axe three times on the neck.
We have learned from a weekly publication the Sunday News that Reabokile Noko, age 28, from Buvuma village who is suspected to be mentally challenged attacked his five-year-old maternal niece Mitchel Dube with an axe after his intended target evaded him.
Matabeleland South acting provincial police spokesperson Inspector Loveness Mangena confirmed the horrific incident which occurred on Tuesday at around 11 AM.
“I can confirm that we recorded a murder case that occurred in Buvuma area in Gwanda. Reabokile Noko who is said to be mentally unstable entered the kitchen hut while armed with an axe and found his mother sitting with her five-year-old granddaughter,” said Inspector Mangena.
On the day the tragic incident happened, it is alleged that Noko wanted to strike his mother with the axe. Sensing danger, his mother fled from the kitchen she was in and left her granddaughter behind. Noko then focused all his rage on the little one and struck his niece three times with the axe until she died.
“He advanced towards his mother while threatening to strike her with the axe but she escaped through a window leaving her granddaughter behind. Noko then struck his five-year-old niece with the axe three times on the neck and she died on the spot,” she said.
The matter was immediately reported to the police leading to Noko’s arrest.
The police are still trying to establish what triggered Noko to attack his mother in the first place or why he axed his niece to death. Inspector Mangena said the doctors are yet to ascertain his mental state as Noko is alleged to be mentally unstable.
The body of the now deceased is being held at the Gwanda Provincial Hospital mortuary and Noko is currently in police custody.
