Police making progress in Okahandja murders - Shikongo
It is regrettable that some cases remain unsolved
There is a N$120 000 reward yet no one has come forward with information and claimed the money.
It's exactly two months after Ingrid Maasdorp (5) was kidnapped and her body was later found dumped under a bridge in Okahandja.
It will also be exactly a month in three days after Roswindis Fabiani (6) was kidnapped from the same school and her body was later found dumped in a nearby cemetery.
There is a N$120 000 reward for information that can lead the police to the people behind the murders.
Yet no one has come forward with information and claimed the money.
There are growing concerns and fears that these murders - and that of 15-year-old Beyonce Kharuxas, whose body was found in the same town two days after the discovery of Fabiani's - could grow cold.
DNA collected
Despite these mounting public frustrations, Police Inspector General Joseph Shikongo maintained that progress is being made.
Shikongo said the police have collected numerous DNA samples, some of which have already been processed, with further tests underway in the hope of positively identifying the serial killer(s).
According to Shikongo, the police deployed all available resources, including physical deployments to restore public confidence and investigative and support teams.
“Our teams have been on the ground since day one. I don’t understand why questions are being raised about whether the police are doing enough to assure the public," he said.
He asked: "Why should we assure people when our teams have been actively working from the very beginning? We even deployed the most senior officials."
Shikongo said the head of the Criminal Investigation Directorate (CID), Commissioner Moritz !Naruseb, has been on the ground with the teams, along with Namibian Police head of forensics, Commissioner Nelius Becker.
“I want to emphasise that for the police to make a breakthrough in any case, we need collaboration with witnesses or anyone with credible information.
"That’s why there is a reward being offered to anyone who comes forward with useful information,” Shikongo said.
N$270 000 reward money
Reward money amounting to N$270 000 has been offered since 2010 to anyone who can give the police information regarding the other five murders of girls.
The police offered a N$50 000 reward for information that could lead them to those who killed 17-year-old Magdalena Stoffels in Windhoek in 2010.
Another N$100 000 reward offered for information regarding the brutal murder of nine-year-old Avihe Cheryl Ujaha in 2018 in Katutura remains unclaimed in that case.
Shikongo stressed the importance of public cooperation, adding that the police rely on people who have evidence. He said that without information, the police cannot act, regardless of the case.
“If we don’t have people providing information or giving clues, it becomes challenging for the police.
"Some cases remain unsolved despite resources being deployed, because no one has come forward,” Shikongo said.
He said Avihe's case is an example.
“There's N$100 000 sitting in a bank account, waiting to be claimed by anyone who provides information leading to an arrest.
"Are you telling me no one wants that money? The truth is, no credible information has been received,” he admitted.
Shikongo also recalled the case of a student nurse who was murdered near Katutura Hospital in Windhoek, saying the police solved it because some people came forward.
"Their cooperation led us to arrest the suspect in Keetmanshoop, in the ǁKaras Region,” Shikongo said. “It is regrettable that some cases remain unsolved. But I can assure you, we are working around the clock to investigate the murder of the three children.”
'The Khomas Ripper'
Among the cold cases is the notorious B1 Butcher investigation, which began in 2005.
The unidentified serial killer is believed to have murdered at least five women between 2005 and 2007, leaving dismembered remains along the national B1 Road.
The term “B1 Butcher” was coined by the media, referencing the highway where the remains were found. The killer was also referred to as the “Khomas Ripper.” Victims were young to middle-aged women, all Namibians of colour, fluent in Afrikaans, Damara, or both. Some of their body parts appeared to have been frozen or refrigerated.
In 2007, a German-born Namibian was arrested on rape charges and later linked to the killings, but was acquitted due to insufficient evidence.
Another man, who later committed suicide, was also implicated, though never conclusively tied to the murders.
Three days later, her mutilated body was found in nearby bushes, with several body parts, including hands, a foot, ribs, a thigh, and neck, missing.
Then-police spokesperson Pendukeni Haikali said the killer may have boiled the body before dumping it.
[email protected]
It will also be exactly a month in three days after Roswindis Fabiani (6) was kidnapped from the same school and her body was later found dumped in a nearby cemetery.
There is a N$120 000 reward for information that can lead the police to the people behind the murders.
Yet no one has come forward with information and claimed the money.
There are growing concerns and fears that these murders - and that of 15-year-old Beyonce Kharuxas, whose body was found in the same town two days after the discovery of Fabiani's - could grow cold.
DNA collected
Despite these mounting public frustrations, Police Inspector General Joseph Shikongo maintained that progress is being made.
Shikongo said the police have collected numerous DNA samples, some of which have already been processed, with further tests underway in the hope of positively identifying the serial killer(s).
According to Shikongo, the police deployed all available resources, including physical deployments to restore public confidence and investigative and support teams.
“Our teams have been on the ground since day one. I don’t understand why questions are being raised about whether the police are doing enough to assure the public," he said.
He asked: "Why should we assure people when our teams have been actively working from the very beginning? We even deployed the most senior officials."
Shikongo said the head of the Criminal Investigation Directorate (CID), Commissioner Moritz !Naruseb, has been on the ground with the teams, along with Namibian Police head of forensics, Commissioner Nelius Becker.
“I want to emphasise that for the police to make a breakthrough in any case, we need collaboration with witnesses or anyone with credible information.
"That’s why there is a reward being offered to anyone who comes forward with useful information,” Shikongo said.
N$270 000 reward money
Reward money amounting to N$270 000 has been offered since 2010 to anyone who can give the police information regarding the other five murders of girls.
The police offered a N$50 000 reward for information that could lead them to those who killed 17-year-old Magdalena Stoffels in Windhoek in 2010.
Another N$100 000 reward offered for information regarding the brutal murder of nine-year-old Avihe Cheryl Ujaha in 2018 in Katutura remains unclaimed in that case.
Shikongo stressed the importance of public cooperation, adding that the police rely on people who have evidence. He said that without information, the police cannot act, regardless of the case.
“If we don’t have people providing information or giving clues, it becomes challenging for the police.
"Some cases remain unsolved despite resources being deployed, because no one has come forward,” Shikongo said.
He said Avihe's case is an example.
“There's N$100 000 sitting in a bank account, waiting to be claimed by anyone who provides information leading to an arrest.
"Are you telling me no one wants that money? The truth is, no credible information has been received,” he admitted.
Shikongo also recalled the case of a student nurse who was murdered near Katutura Hospital in Windhoek, saying the police solved it because some people came forward.
"Their cooperation led us to arrest the suspect in Keetmanshoop, in the ǁKaras Region,” Shikongo said. “It is regrettable that some cases remain unsolved. But I can assure you, we are working around the clock to investigate the murder of the three children.”
'The Khomas Ripper'
Among the cold cases is the notorious B1 Butcher investigation, which began in 2005.
The unidentified serial killer is believed to have murdered at least five women between 2005 and 2007, leaving dismembered remains along the national B1 Road.
The term “B1 Butcher” was coined by the media, referencing the highway where the remains were found. The killer was also referred to as the “Khomas Ripper.” Victims were young to middle-aged women, all Namibians of colour, fluent in Afrikaans, Damara, or both. Some of their body parts appeared to have been frozen or refrigerated.
In 2007, a German-born Namibian was arrested on rape charges and later linked to the killings, but was acquitted due to insufficient evidence.
Another man, who later committed suicide, was also implicated, though never conclusively tied to the murders.
Three days later, her mutilated body was found in nearby bushes, with several body parts, including hands, a foot, ribs, a thigh, and neck, missing.
Then-police spokesperson Pendukeni Haikali said the killer may have boiled the body before dumping it.
[email protected]
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