Omaheke police warn against spreading of unverified crime reports

The police in the Omaheke region have issued a stern warning to the public, urging them to refrain from spreading unverified information about criminal incidents, particularly on social media platforms like WhatsApp.

This follows a recent wave of panic sparked by the tragic murder of two women at Okahandja, which has since been followed by widespread speculation and the circulation of disturbing but unconfirmed reports.

This is according to head of community policing in the region, chief inspector Finna Sakajengenga.

She says the trend of circulating false or unverified crime-related information is causing more harm than good.

“We have noted with concern that a number of voice notes and messages, claiming incidents such as attempted abductions, use of powdery substances, and suspicious vehicles, have gone viral without any official confirmation or police reports backing them,” Sakajengenga says.

According to the police, most of these stories have been circulated through informal crime prevention WhatsApp groups based at Gobabis and have not been formally reported or investigated.

“Not only do these false narratives cause fear and confusion among residents, but they can also severely compromise ongoing investigations, stretch police resources, and in some cases, damage the reputations of innocent individuals.”

“We understand that communities want to protect themselves and their loved ones, but we must act on facts, not fear. We are calling on residents to report suspicious activities directly to the police and allow us to do our job,” she says.

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