Man accused of Boko Haram, ISIS links seeks bail

A 32-year-old Grootfontein man accused of conspiring with Boko Haram and ISIS to help overthrow Namibia's "weak" government appeared before High Court judge Shafimana Ueitele on Wednesday, where he indicated his intention to formally apply for bail.Jona Hangula also requested the court to grant a postponement to allow time to submit an application for legal aid.Hangula, who is currently represented by his private lawyer Wihan Brand, told the court that he would need assistance from the Directorate of Legal Aid. Judge Uietele granted the postponement, and the matter is set for July 16 for a status hearing.The prosecution is accusing Hangula of actively engaging with extremist groups such as Boko Haram, a violent Islamist insurgency known for terrorising communities across West Africa’s Lake Chad Basin.Boko Haram has been linked to the abduction, killings and use of children as suicide bombers, as well as large-scale attacks on civilians and government institutions.As it stands, he is facing 19 charges, including one count of funding terrorist activities, two counts of recruitment of persons for terrorist organisations, and one count of membership in a terrorist group. All charges are in contravention of the Prevention and Combating of Terrorist and Proliferation Activities Act, Act 4 of 2014.In addition, he is charged with high treason and 13 counts of contravening the Immigration Control Act for allegedly employing persons unlawfully present in Namibia.'Weak' governmentsHangula is accused of having allegedly outlined a detailed plan to wage jihad in southern Africa, starting in Namibia, by establishing a militant base near the Angolan border, recruiting fighters and training them to launch ambushes on local villages.He reportedly expressed admiration for ISIS and Boko Haram and discussed strategies to overthrow African governments, which he described as “weak", according to court documents. Hangula also allegedly requested assistance in constructing suicide belts, sought to purchase firearms including AK-47s and pistols and expressed interest in teaching recruits to make homemade explosives, which he reportedly referred to as “spicy bombs”. He is further accused of attempting to recruit a female suicide bomber and offering support to foreign jihadists, including one individual who claimed he wanted to “bomb big cities in India".He also allegedly received US$6.5 million from various institutions and N$30 million from one institution.The institutions are not named in the court documents.Hangula was arrested on 21 June 2023.rita@nmh-hub.com.na

Man accused of Boko Haram, ISIS links seeks bail

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Namibian Sun 2025-08-06

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Man accused of Boko Haram, ISIS links seeks bail

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Namibian Sun 2025-08-06

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