Oshakati — A six-year-old girl from Ruacana last week died a horrific, watery death after she was caught, dragged under the water and devoured by a man-eating crocodile.

The horror incident took place at Undoozu village in the Ruacana Constituency. It is reported that the girl, identified as Unotjali Mbuale, was with her aunt and three other children between the ages of four and five at the river where the incident took place.

The aunt was allegedly fishing while the children played a few metres away from her, when she heard the others screaming. When she turned around, she saw Mbuale being dragged under the water by the crocodile.

The woman called the police, since there was nothing she could do to save the child.

According to Omusati Police spokesperson Lineekela Shikongo, police assisted by members of the community searched for the girl for almost two days but have not found her body yet.

"Part of her skull was only recovered by the end of the second day by Angolan nationals on the other side of the river," according to Shikongo. Relatives managed to identify the girl's remains as there was some skin left on the small piece of skull that was recovered.

Shikongo warned members of the small riverine commununity to exercise caution whenever they go fishing, because crocodiles lurking in the river pose a constant danger.

"The family of this child have lived nearby the river all their lives, they are supposed to know the seasons and the time of the day when crocodiles are likely to be at the edge of the river, and people should not allow children to play around near the river," said Shikongo.