Mysterious organs identified as cow, goat remains
The police in the Oshana Region have concluded that the recent discovery of organs in shallow graves at Omatando No. 1 belongs to animals – a goat and a cow.
According to Oshana regional commander Commissioner Naftal Lungameni Sakaria, the first discovery, made on 27 July, was a lung and heart, which were identified through forensic testing as belonging to a goat. These organs were found buried with human clothes.
The second discovery, on 31 July, was a lung, which has been identified as belonging to a cow.
The lungs were also placed in a shallow grave, along with clothes.
The police found black leggings, a white sheet, and a top wrapped in black plastic alongside the animal lung.
"There is no need for the public to fear; both organs were from animals," Sakaria said, adding that they traced one of the plastic wrappings, which had a bar code, to a local shop that supplies meat products.
Report suspicious behaviour
However, Sakaria urged the public to report any suspicious activities of this nature to the police in the area.
He stated that the police suspect the gravediggers may have received instructions from dubious traditional healers.
"We suspect that it could be rituals. Or someone told by so-called witch doctors and herbalists to bury the items. This can come at a very heavy cost. These people might have been spent a fortune and told to carry out these activities. If anyone has fallen victim or the public knows of any fake healers taking advantage of people, they should report to the police for assistance," he urged.
Panic among villagers
Julius Mulongeni, the headman for Omatando No. 1, said the people in the village are scarred and feel unsafe as the area is too busy.
Mulongeni pleaded with the Ongwediva town council to embark on another cleaning campaign and to make a commitment to debush the area.
Ongwediva council spokesperson Jackson Muma said Omatando No. 1 is part of the area they cleaned last week after numerous complaints from the villagers that the criminals were also hiding in the bushes.
Muma reassured the residents that the council will continue working with the community to make the area safer for them.
"We are also encouraging the community to clean with us but not to cut down or remove the big trees, which are good for shade. Let us create a safe space without causing deforestation," he said.
According to Oshana regional commander Commissioner Naftal Lungameni Sakaria, the first discovery, made on 27 July, was a lung and heart, which were identified through forensic testing as belonging to a goat. These organs were found buried with human clothes.
The second discovery, on 31 July, was a lung, which has been identified as belonging to a cow.
The lungs were also placed in a shallow grave, along with clothes.
The police found black leggings, a white sheet, and a top wrapped in black plastic alongside the animal lung.
"There is no need for the public to fear; both organs were from animals," Sakaria said, adding that they traced one of the plastic wrappings, which had a bar code, to a local shop that supplies meat products.
Report suspicious behaviour
However, Sakaria urged the public to report any suspicious activities of this nature to the police in the area.
He stated that the police suspect the gravediggers may have received instructions from dubious traditional healers.
"We suspect that it could be rituals. Or someone told by so-called witch doctors and herbalists to bury the items. This can come at a very heavy cost. These people might have been spent a fortune and told to carry out these activities. If anyone has fallen victim or the public knows of any fake healers taking advantage of people, they should report to the police for assistance," he urged.
Panic among villagers
Julius Mulongeni, the headman for Omatando No. 1, said the people in the village are scarred and feel unsafe as the area is too busy.
Mulongeni pleaded with the Ongwediva town council to embark on another cleaning campaign and to make a commitment to debush the area.
Ongwediva council spokesperson Jackson Muma said Omatando No. 1 is part of the area they cleaned last week after numerous complaints from the villagers that the criminals were also hiding in the bushes.
Muma reassured the residents that the council will continue working with the community to make the area safer for them.
"We are also encouraging the community to clean with us but not to cut down or remove the big trees, which are good for shade. Let us create a safe space without causing deforestation," he said.
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