Amushelelo demands arrest of copsover ‘Okahandja 5’ shooting

Namibia Economic Freedom Fighters member Michael Amushelelo is demanding that the Namibian Police should arrest the people responsible for killing five alleged robbery suspects at Okahandja in April last year.

Amushelelo made the demands in a petition that he handed over to Namibian Police deputy inspector general Elias Mutota in Windhoek yesterday. Five men were killed in a shooting incident at Okahandja during the evening of 25 April last year.

The police claimed after the incident that the men had been shot after they had fired shots at a police car which was pursuing them. The police also stated it was suspected that the men had been planning to carry out an armed robbery at a gambling house at Okahandja. The men were identified as Erikki ‘Akawa’ Martin, Abed Andreas, Marius Ipinge, Malaika Kotokeni and Flavianus Endjala.

Amushelelo claimed yesterday that the incident was an example of police brutality and that the police have no regard for human rights. “We demand accountability, justice, integrity and transparency from the police,” he said.

While accusing the police of abusing their power, he also charged: “Lately, the Namibian Police is behaving like the apartheid ‘Suidwes Afrika Police’ which had zero regard for human rights and violated those rights with impunity.”

Amushelelo added that if the police officers responsible for the fatal shooting are not arrested by Friday, he will stage another protest on 4 March, until arrests have been made.

Amushelelo has in the past week also accused the police of covering up the case and failing to take action against the police officers involved.

In a media statement last week, Namibian Police inspector general Joseph Shikongo said two critical statements that were pending in the investigation of the case have been obtained, leaving only one witness statement pending.

“Additionally, the sixth suspect in the matter was located, almost six months after the incident and his statement was also obtained. Thus far, 51 statements under oath were obtained, including 14 supporting documents,” he said.

Shikongo also said laboratory tests have been finalised and the docket on the police’s investigation of the incident is expected to be submitted to the prosecutor general by this week for consideration.