The escape of 24 trial-awaiting prisoners from custody in the Omusati region has raised serious public safety concerns, with police urging residents not to approach the suspects but to report any information immediately.

Inspector Anna Kunga of Namibian Police community policing unit in Omusati said the inmates escaped on Monday night at around 22:00 after cutting through the roof of their holding cells.

“All 24 inmates are still on the run. None of them has been re-arrested so far,” Kunga said.

She said the escapees include suspects facing serious charges such as murder, rape, assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm (GBH), and crimes linked to protected natural resources.

According to Kunga, only one of the escapees is Namibian, while the remaining 23 are Angolan nationals. This, she said, creates additional challenges for police, especially because Omusati borders Angola.

“We cannot cross into Angola to arrest them. The law does not allow us. We can only re-arrest them if they are found inside Namibia,” she said. 

Kunga warned members of the public that the suspects may be tired, hungry and desperate after spending a long time in custody.

“They might ask for water, food or a place to sleep. People must be very careful and should not assist them,” she said.

She strongly cautioned against members of the public trying to arrest the escapees themselves.

“We don’t know how dangerous they are. Some are facing murder cases. The public must not try to arrest them but should inform the police without being seen,” Kunga said. Taxi drivers and community members have also been asked to be alert and to report any suspicious passengers or movements to the nearest police station.

Kunga said the manhunt is currently being handled by the Omusati police, with officers working around the clock to trace the fugitives.

“Our request to the nation is simple to  help us with information. Together, we can make sure these suspects are brought back into custody,” she said. Police have not yet released further details on how security at the holding facility was breached, but investigations into the escape are continuing.