Omuthiya prison break: Six suspects still on the run
970 attempted jailbreaks in five years
Of the 11 inmates who escaped over the weekend, five have been rearrested.
While 284 inmates who escaped from police holding cells since 2019 are still on the loose, six more were added to the figure over the weekend.
This after 11 inmates escaped from the Omuthiya police holding cells on Saturday. Five were promptly rearrested, but according to the Oshikoto police, a manhunt for the remaining six inmates continues.
Deputy commissioner Wynand Hermanus Neels yesterday confirmed that the six escapees are still at large. “We are investigating and we are on it, so hopefully we get them back soon,” he said.
This was the first time inmates escaped from the Oshikoto police headquarters since the N$280 million facility was inaugurated in 2018.
‘Inside job’
According to a police report, the inmates used metal objects to break through a wall before fleeing. The jailbreak was discovered when police officers on the morning shift found the hole and realised that several suspects had escaped.
The inmates had been detained on various charges ranging from theft, rape and attempted murder to fraud, assault of a police officer and drug possession. It is still unclear how they got hold of metal objects to orchestrate the jailbreak.
Social media was abuzz when news of the escape broke, with many claiming the incident reeks of an ‘inside job’ involving corrupt police officers.
Four months ago, Namibian Sun reported that over 250 inmates who escaped from police holding cells since 2019 are still on the loose. According to a report on human trafficking and missing persons by the criminal investigation directorate, since 2019, there have been 970 attempted prison escapes. Of these attempts, 690 inmates were reprehended, while 284 remain at large.
[email protected]
This after 11 inmates escaped from the Omuthiya police holding cells on Saturday. Five were promptly rearrested, but according to the Oshikoto police, a manhunt for the remaining six inmates continues.
Deputy commissioner Wynand Hermanus Neels yesterday confirmed that the six escapees are still at large. “We are investigating and we are on it, so hopefully we get them back soon,” he said.
This was the first time inmates escaped from the Oshikoto police headquarters since the N$280 million facility was inaugurated in 2018.
‘Inside job’
According to a police report, the inmates used metal objects to break through a wall before fleeing. The jailbreak was discovered when police officers on the morning shift found the hole and realised that several suspects had escaped.
The inmates had been detained on various charges ranging from theft, rape and attempted murder to fraud, assault of a police officer and drug possession. It is still unclear how they got hold of metal objects to orchestrate the jailbreak.
Social media was abuzz when news of the escape broke, with many claiming the incident reeks of an ‘inside job’ involving corrupt police officers.
Four months ago, Namibian Sun reported that over 250 inmates who escaped from police holding cells since 2019 are still on the loose. According to a report on human trafficking and missing persons by the criminal investigation directorate, since 2019, there have been 970 attempted prison escapes. Of these attempts, 690 inmates were reprehended, while 284 remain at large.
[email protected]
Comments
Namibian Sun
No comments have been left on this article