Maria David
COMMISSIONER Naftal Lungameni Sakaria, the Oshana Regional Police Commander, was recently named the Gold Commander for the Etosha National Park Anti-poaching Safety and Security squad.
Sakaria was named on March 23 and will, for the next six months, be in charge of directing the joint Nampol/NDF operational work in the Etosha National Park.
He said that he will concurrently be in charge of the Oshana Region and also the anti-poaching operations in Etosha.
“I have already been to Etosha, rotated the personnel and properly briefed them,” he said.
He said that law enforcement officers are properly equipped to defend themselves against poachers.
“We will not allow police officers to be harassed or intimidated by poachers. Therefore, any poacher who illegally enters Etosha and is confronted by police officers, the best would be for such a poacher to surrender immediately,” he said.
He revealed that a police officer was recently wounded by poachers in Etosha, something Sakaria said won’t be allowed to happen again.
“It is unacceptable to have police officers, who protect our wildlife, being shot at by those poachers,” he said, adding that Sakaria added that there is a fat reward for those who tip the police off.
When a tip off results in the arrest of a poacher or the retrieval of ivory, then the informer could receive a reward of up to N$50 000.
“We are aware that the illegal hunters are from our local areas. By reporting you combat a crime and also receive a reward,” said Sakaria.
He also urged people to call the toll-free number 55555, which is manned around-the-clock.
