New police station offers hope to Oshoopala residents

Residents of the Oshoopala informal settlement in Oshakati say they can now breathe a sigh of relief following the opening of a satellite police station there on Wednesday.

The settlement is reputed to be one of the most notorious areas in Oshakati, to such an extent that last year, the community decided to take the law into their own hands – the act of mob justice against a suspected criminal was halted by the police at the time.

Community leader Lysias Mutileni said the community will work closely with the police to fight crime.

“I encourage all of you to engage with the officers to enforce the law but also listen, support and collaborate with you in creating safer streets and neighbourhoods,” Mutileni said.



Commendable

Oshana police regional commander Commissioner Naftal Lungameni Sakaria said for too long, Oshoopala has been categorised as one of the most problematic crime zones in Oshakati.

He said the satellite office will help curb crime.

Sakaria applauded the Oshoopala community for supporting the police and said their commitment to help the police fight crime is commendable.

He said during a meeting held last year, both law enforcement officers and community members concluded unanimously that crime rates in the area were too high and urgent action was required.

“It is well known as a nest of criminals, and the residents had enough at some point. We have suffered in this area,” Sakaria said.

He said while the town council had informed the police that plans are underway to relocate residents from Oshoopala to pave the way for development, the process was taking too long. He said residents are suffering, and thus the police decided to proceed with their plan.



Community responsibility

Sakaria added that he had to discourage residents from taking the law into their own hands when they threatened to assault suspected criminals.

In response, the police initiated anti-crime community networks and a neighbourhood watch to provide hope and support for the residents.

“They were grabbing people’s properties and running into Oshoopala where they were then hidden by some of the community members. We have now put some of those acts to an end. Today, if you come to Oshoopala and any criminal seeking to hide in the area, we will be aware of it,” he said.

Sakaria said the town is growing rapidly and advised Oshakati mayor Leonard Hango to ensure council is prepared to provide the necessary services to ensure residents' safety.

Hango said the new station will not only improve response times to crime reports but also enhance community engagement and trust between law enforcement and members of the public.

He said safety is the cornerstone of thriving communities and it's the council’s responsibility to ensure that all residents feel secure in their homes and neighbourhoods.