12 Ethiopian immigrants nabbed in Namibia

The Immigration Department in Namibia District of Eastern Province has apprehended 12 illegal immigrants of Ethiopian origin while 15 others; including six Zambian citizens; accompanying them are on the run.

The 27 Ethiopians were en route South Africa when the minibus they were in belonging to Fleetwood School of Chipata District in Eastern province fell into a ditch while trying to escape the Kacholala police checkpoint in Namibia district two days back.

One of the apprehended Ethiopians revealed that the driver wanted the Ethiopians to use a bush path while he and five other Zambians pass through the police checkpoint to reunite at a later point.

Reports say that in September this year, an additional 26 Ethiopians en route South Africa where apprehended in a suspected human trafficking case in Namibia District.

Seventeen-year-old Abdilwas Ahmed of Halaba in Ethiopia said that he and 25 others were apprehended by vigilant immigration officers in Namibia as they were trying to cross into neighboring Mozambique.

Ahmed narrated that they had been in transit for three months before being apprehended.

He further revealed that logistics from Ethiopia to South Africa were arranged by a Malawian.

He told the media in Namibia that ‘The Boss’ only allowed them to eat once every two days.

Ahmed said he was travelling to South Africa to work as a shop attendant that was arranged by the ‘The Boss’.

All the apprehended were unhurt and will appear in court soon.