Police in the Ohangwena Region have identified the three-year-old girl, who was allegedly killed by a 31-year-old Rundu-based Roman Catholic priest yesterday at Onakaolo village, as Ingaveuya Tyapa.

The priest, who is also Tyapa's uncle and was ordained two years ago, arrived in the village on Thursday to attend the celebration of 100 years of the arrival of missionaries of the Catholic Church in Oshikuku taking place today.

Police preliminary investigations revealed that the priest, who is believed to be mentally unstable, entered the room where the two children were asleep, grabbed Tyapa, and repeatedly hit her on the floor, causing her to sustain major head injuries, which led to her death.

The suspect then proceeded to assault the second victim, a 6-year-old boy, against the floor, and he sustained multiple open wounds on the head.

The boy is currently hospitalised in an intensive care unit.

The suspect has been arrested and taken to the hospital for observation and treatment.

He is expected to appear in the Ohangwena Magistrate's Court on Monday on charges of murder and attempted murder.