Ongwediva: Five suspects reportedly escaped from lawful custody at the Ongwediva Police Station holding cells in the Oshana Region on Wednesday.

According to Namibia Press Agency, the incident report provided by Chief Inspector Thomas Haiyambo indicated that the escape occurred around 00h30.

'It is alleged that shift members were on duty when some of the members went for inspections behind the cells. They noticed a suspicious print of a flip flop (shoe) around the cells. Further inspection was done on top of the cells and a hole was discovered. It is suspected that inmates cut a corrugated iron sheet on the roof and escaped,' Haiyambo said.

He added that upon physical verification and counting of suspects in the cells, it was revealed that five suspects were missing. It is alleged that the suspects used an unknown object to cut the cell burglar door before accessing the scuttle hole and cutting through the corrugated iron on the roof.

The fugitives have been identified as Angula Shindinge (known as Mapadi), Erasmus Bravo, Jesaya Hangula, Martin Pohamba, and Gwiilundo Lonny Shimanya. The police have appealed to anyone with any information on their whereabouts to contact the Ongwediva Police Station or their nearest police station.