9 ‘gangsters’ arrested at Elim

NINE members of a gang accused of terrorising villagers in the Elim district of the Omusati Region were arrested on Sunday, the Police announced yesterday.

The gang, calling themselves ‘Omushasho-hoko’ (shotgun hoko) have been accused of intimidating, harassing and robbing people in the area, said the Regional Police Commander, Deputy Commissioner Ndahangwapo Kashihakumwa. Kashihakumwa said angry villagers from Elim reported the presence of the gang to the Police last weekend.”We went there on Sunday morning and arrested nine of them.Some ran away and the Police are looking for them,” Kashihakumwa said.He said some of the suspects hid in the local church, mingling with churchgoers, when they realised the Police were after them.The Police explained the situation to the pastor and the men were arrested in the church, he said.The suspects appeared in the Oshakati Magistrate’s Court yesterday on multiple charges ranging from assault to trespassing.They were not asked to plead and their case was postponed to October 23 for further Police investigation.They were all released on warning.The nine are: Alex Mandume (22) from Onengali village, Lameck Uusiku (31 from Onatshiku, Mensach Jeremia (25) from Onatshiku village, Shapumba Iiyambo (20) from Onengali village, a 17-year-old boy from Iihanguti village, Elago Tadeus (26) from Onatshiku, Ndili Angula (20) from Onatshiku, Nghilifa Sheehama (23) and Simon Ruben, both from Iihanguti village.Kashihakumwa said angry villagers from Elim reported the presence of the gang to the Police last weekend.”We went there on Sunday morning and arrested nine of them.Some ran away and the Police are looking for them,” Kashihakumwa said. He said some of the suspects hid in the local church, mingling with churchgoers, when they realised the Police were after them. The Police explained the situation to the pastor and the men were arrested in the church, he said.The suspects appeared in the Oshakati Magistrate’s Court yesterday on multiple charges ranging from assault to trespassing.They were not asked to plead and their case was postponed to October 23 for further Police investigation.They were all released on warning.The nine are: Alex Mandume (22) from Onengali village, Lameck Uusiku (31 from Onatshiku, Mensach Jeremia (25) from Onatshiku village, Shapumba Iiyambo (20) from Onengali village, a 17-year-old boy from Iihanguti village, Elago Tadeus (26) from Onatshiku, Ndili Angula (20) from Onatshiku, Nghilifa Sheehama (23) and Simon Ruben, both from Iihanguti village.