NO BAIL FOR 'RHINO POACHERS' FROM GOBABIS BULL

The suspects involved in the poaching of a white rhinoceros bull on a farm in the Gobabis district remain in custody.

According to the spokesperson of the Namibian police, Deputy Commissioner Kauna Shikwambi, the suspects have already appeared in the magistrate's courts of Gobabis and Katutura in Windhoek over the past weekend.

The names of the suspects as provided by Shikwambi are Micheal Shomeya Koshondatile (39), Barnabas Shitaleni Muzanime (35), 31-year-old Petrus Petrus Nghifindaka, Victory Henghono (also 31), and 34-year-old Imanuel Stafanus Nangwasha.

After the carcass of the large white rhinoceros bull with its horns removed was found, the investigation by the Blue Rhino task team, the protected resources division in the Omaheke region, as well as the investigative unit of the Ministry of Environment, Forestry, and Tourism began.

"With information provided by the farming community and local police reservists, a vehicle with a GRN registration number suspected to be involved in rhino poaching was identified," Shikwambi said in a statement.

According to one of the police reservists, the vehicle is a brand-new 2024 model Toyota Fortuner.

Shikwambi stated that the investigation team traced the vehicle and its driver in Gobabis, and subsequent investigations led the team to the Havana informal settlement in Windhoek.

"From Sunday, May 5th, to the morning of Monday, May 6th, the team arrested three Namibian men in Windhoek who were found in possession of two fresh rhinoceros horns suspected to be from the rhino," Shikwambi said.

These three suspects made their first appearance in the Katutura magistrate's court on Tuesday, and their case has been postponed until August 13th for further investigation. No bail is allowed, and they will also be charged in the rhino poaching case from Gobabis.

Two more Namibian men have also been arrested in Windhoek and Gobabis for their involvement in the rhino poaching case, and they appeared in the Gobabis magistrate's court on Wednesday along with the government vehicle driver. Their case has been postponed until July 24th for further investigation. They also remain in custody.

Rhino poachers have targeted this farm three times already, plundering rhinos each time.