By Nuusita Ashipala
ONGWEDIVA – Police in the Oshikoto Region are investigating three cases of rape in which teenage girls were robbed of their innocence by adult men at the end of last year and beginning of this year.
The cases were all reported at the Omuthiya police station of the Oshikoto Region.
A 13-year-old girl was raped under a tree at Okanamishuona village by an adult man on New Year’s Day, police say. The incident occurred at midnight.
According to police Chief Inspector Stephan Nuuyi of the Oshikoto Region, it is alleged that the suspect pretended to be escorting the victim.
“It is alleged that the suspect pretended to escort the victim and raped her under a tree in the bush,” said Nuuyi.
The suspect is still at large and police investigation into the matter continues.
Similarly, on New Year’s Eve, a 13-year-old girl was raped by a 23-year-old man at Okawambi village at 17h00. The suspect has been arrested and police investigation continues.
Still in the Oshikoto Region, another teenager, aged 14, was raped by an unknown man at Othema-yemanya in the Omuthiya area on the December 30, 2014.
According to Chief Inspector Nuuyi, the suspect allegedly dragged the victim into the field before raping her.
The suspect has not yet been arrested and police investigation into the matter continues.
Chief inspector Nuuyi said the police in Oshikoto are concerned by the rape cases perpetrated against young children and encouraged the nation to pay attention to the media where rape-related matters are extensively discussed.
“We encourage people to read newspapers and listen to the radio programmes, as we try to convey tips through [them],” said Chief Inspector Nuuyi.