Selma Ikela
WINDHOEK – Namibian police and the public collectively offered N$46 000 for information leading to the arrest of the perpetrator/s in the murder of nine-year-old Cheryl Avihe Ujaha.
Ujaha’s dismembered and boiled body was discovered on Tuesday morning in a riverbed near Staanvas in Katutura after she went missing on Sunday from her home in Katutura.
There has been an outpouring of grief from the public and political leaders who visited the bereaved family such as the Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila, Justice Minister Sackey Shangala, Windhoek Mayor Muesee Kazapua and PDM leader McHenry Venaani over the brutal killing of Ujaha that is suspected to be ritualistic.
Ujaha was a top performing Grade 3 learner at Gammams Primary School in Khomasdal.
Her brutal murder sent shockwaves countrywide. As of Wednesday, some of her body parts could still not be traced, which could delay her burial.
As citizens went on social media to condemn the killing and convey their condolences to the bereaved family, some individuals offered rewards.
Police yesterday offered N$30 000 to anyone with information leading to the successful arrest and the prosecution of the perpetrators involved in the crime that has shocked the nation.
In addition, Facebook subscriber Clive Smith offered N$10 000 to anyone with information leading to arrest. “To that end I ask all my Facebook friends to join me and spread the message wide. Someone, somewhere, somehow saw something, heard something, maybe unconsciously so…,” he wrote.
Similarly, Red Hawk Security Company, which initially offered N$2000 to any person with information had N$6 000 by yesterday afternoon after individuals contacted the company and made further offers. Company owner Desmond de Klerk told New Era they were still sharing their post and seeing if there will be more responses.
Nampol spokesperson Inspector Pendukeni Haikali said no suspect was arrested yet in the matter, hence the police’s request for the public to assist.
Haikali assured that the police will protect the identity of anyone who will provide information leading to the arrest of the suspect(s).
Anyone with information is requested to contact Khomas Regional Crime Investigator Coordinator Deputy Commissioner Abner Agas on 0811242649 or report to the nearest police station.
In her remarks during a press conference regarding the killing of women and children yesterday, Minister of Gender Equality and Child Welfare Doreen Sioka confirmed that statistics show that perpetrators of gender-based violence are mostly men, who account for 90 percent of the total number of reported cases.
She said it is sad to note that almost all the victims were women, who constitute 86 percent of the survivors of GBV.
“As a ministry, we also noted that the killing of children is on the increase, especially girls, with the recent case of Cheryl. These statistics are alarming for the country which stands at only 2.1 million people as of 2011 census,” lamented the gender equality minister.
Sioka added the Ujaha’s killing is unacceptable and is condemned in the strongest terms by the ministry.
“We cannot be having people murdering other people like animals, and I think these people have lost value for human life,” she stated.
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