Also known as: Commissioner Ismael Basson · Omusati police regional commander · Omusati police commander · Police regional commander Ismael Basson
Omusati regional police commander who oversees law enforcement operations and investigates crimes across the region.
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The Namibian
Basson says upon returning, the mother did not find the suspect or her baby
“"Upon returning to the place, she did not find the suspect or her baby," Basson says.”
Missing Okahao baby found safe, with kidnapping suspect arrestedThe Namibian
Omusati police regional commander commissioner Ismael Basson says the incident occurred around 08h00 when the deceased was driving a donkey cart that hit a tree stump, causing it to overturn
“Omusati police regional commander commissioner Ismael Basson says the incident occurred around 08h00 when the deceased was driving a donkey cart that hit a tree stump, causing it to overturn.”
Man dies in donkey cart accident in OmusatiThe Namibian
Omusati regional police commander Ismael Basson says intoxicated persons crossing the road is rampant
“Omusati regional police commander Ismael Basson says "intoxicated persons crossing the road is rampant."”
Cars kill 47 pedestrians in three monthsThe Namibian
Omusati regional police commander commissioner Ismael Basson says forensic processes are underway to determine identity of deceased and circumstances surrounding death
“Omusati regional police commander commissioner Ismael Basson says forensic processes are underway to determine both the identity of the deceased and the circumstances surrounding the death.”
Cattle herder discovers human skeleton at OtamanziThe Namibian
Basson told The Namibian bones appear recent, not more than a year old
“"We really want to identify the bones. The bones appear to be recent, not so long ago, maybe not even more than a year," Basson told The Namibian on Wednesday.”
Cattle herder discovers human skeleton at OtamanziNew Era
Omusati regional police Commissioner Ismael Basson told New Era officers were deployed throughout the weekend to maintain order
“Omusati regional police Commissioner Ismael Basson told New Era that officers were deployed throughout the weekend to maintain order and ensure that people celebrate responsibly.”
Ruacana economy boosted by Easter sports tournamentThe Namibian
Omusati police regional commander commissioner Ismael Basson says the crash took place in the Tsandi constituency at around 20h00.
“Omusati police regional commander commissioner Ismael Basson says the crash took place in the Tsandi constituency at around 20h00.”
Four injured, three donkeys killed in Omusati road crashThe Namibian
Basson says the driver of the bakkie was allegedly driving without a licence.
“He says the driver of the bakkie was allegedly driving without a licence.”
Four injured, three donkeys killed in Omusati road crashInformanté
Regional police commander Ismael Basson said the deceased is still unknown, as are the date and cause of death
“Regional police commander Ismael Basson said that the deceased is still unknown, as are the date and cause of death.”
Cattle herders discover suspected human remainsInformanté
Omusati Regional Police Commander Ismael Basson said severity of elephant's injuries was not immediately clear
“Omusati Regional Police Commander Ismael Basson said that the severity of the elephant's injuries was not immediately clear, as it left the scene and disappeared into the wilderness.”
Passenger bus hits elephant in Omusati, no injuries recordedA 44-year-old police officer attached to the Very Important Persons Protection Division at Outapi has been arrested after allegedly hitting a 66-year-old pedestrian with a vehicle on the Outapi-Tsandi main road on Sunday evening. The officer is facing charges of reckless or negligent driving, driving without a licence, and refusing to provide a blood specimen.
20 July 2026 · The Namibian →
A 44-year-old police officer attached to the Very Important Persons Protection Division at Outapi has been arrested after allegedly hitting a 66-year-old pedestrian with a vehicle on the Outapi-Tsandi main road on Sunday evening. The officer is facing charges of reckless or negligent driving, driving without a licence, and refusing to provide a blood specimen.
20 July 2026 · The Namibian →
Omusati governor Immanuel Shikongo reported 465 cases of gender-based violence in the 2025/26 financial year, including 204 cases of child physical abuse (82 boys and 122 girls). The governor called for community action to break the culture of silence surrounding abuse and protect children's rights.
29 June 2026 · The Namibian →
A chief inspector of education at Omusati's directorate has been arrested on charges of culpable homicide and drunk driving after allegedly running over a pedestrian on Saturday night along the Tsandi–Outapi road. The victim died, according to Omusati police commander Ismael Basson.
29 June 2026 · The Namibian →
Police in Omusati Region are still searching for a suspect accused of raping a 19-year-old girl in Okapya village on the evening of 11 June; the suspect is known to the victim but had not been arrested as of the weekend.
22 June 2026 · Informanté →
Police arrested two of seven suspects in an armed robbery of an Okahao mini market manager, who lost property worth N$1,076,900 including a Toyota Fortuner; the vehicle was recovered but five suspects remain at large.
17 June 2026 · Informanté →
A 42-year-old shop manager at Rani Mini Market in Okahao was robbed at gunpoint of a white Toyota Fortuner valued at N$1 million, an Apple Watch, leather bag, gold necklace, smartphone, AirPods, and N$1,900 in cash. Police recovered the vehicle in Ohangwena Region near the Namibia–Angola border, but the suspects remain on the run.
17 June 2026 · Informanté →
Omusati Regional Commander Commissioner Ismael Basson addressed 86 newly trained police constables deployed to the region, reminding them to conduct themselves professionally both on and off duty and to detain suspects lawfully without resorting to assault or abuse. Basson also called on senior officers to mentor and support the recruits.
10 June 2026 · Informanté →
An 18-year-old man allegedly raped his 10-year-old sister in a shared bedroom at Tobias Hainyeko, Outapi, on Wednesday afternoon, according to Omusati police regional commander Ismael Basson. The suspect has not been arrested and police investigations are ongoing.
8 June 2026 · The Namibian →
Two inmates who escaped from police holding cells in Onandjaba last month are still at large; police suspect they may have crossed into Angola. Four of the six escapees have been rearrested, and three of five stolen firearms have been recovered.
2 June 2026 · Informanté →
A ten-year-old boy drowned on Friday while swimming with other children in a pond at Iihenguti village in the Omusati Region. Police and traditional leaders have urged parents and guardians to monitor children's water activities, citing ongoing risks from unsupervised swimming.
30 May 2026 · Informanté →
A 10-year-old boy drowned in a pond at Iihanguti village in the Omusati region on Friday afternoon while swimming with two other children. According to the regional police commander, the incident occurred at around 15h30, and the body was taken to a mortuary at Okahao.
30 May 2026 · The Namibian →
The Namibian Police have rearrested four of six trial-awaiting inmates who escaped from Onandjaba police holding cells in Omusati on Sunday; two escapees remain at large, and three of five stolen police firearms have been recovered.
28 May 2026 · The Namibian →
Cornelius Shimwaafeni, 16, a non-swimmer from Omutundungu village in Omusati, rescued twin babies (9 months old) from a pond on Sunday after the twins' mother allegedly threw them in. Shimwaafeni dived in without hesitation and removed both babies; the twins' mother subsequently turned herself in to police, and the Omusati governor visited to show support.
25 May 2026 · The Namibian →
A 24-year-old woman in Omusati's Etayi constituency was arrested after allegedly throwing her 9-month-old twins into a pond on Saturday; a 16-year-old boy rescued the babies, who were briefly hospitalized and discharged into the care of their father and aunt. Police have opened an attempted murder case and the suspect is expected to appear in court on Monday.
17 May 2026 · The Namibian →
A poaching suspect in custody in Omusati Region has been charged with perjury after admitting he lied when alleging he had been tortured by NDF, NamPol, and Environment Ministry officials on 28 April. The charges against the officials are likely to be dropped following the retraction.
15 May 2026 · Informanté →
Police have reported eight rhinos killed on the Omusati side of Etosha National Park since January, with 14 suspects arrested. Intelligence suggests the rhino horn market is in Angola, and some poachers reportedly consult traditional healers for protection during illegal hunting activities.
6 May 2026 · The Namibian →
The Namibian Police in Omusati Region are investigating a police officer stationed at Outapi for allegedly soliciting N$7,000 from a victim in contravention of the Anti-Corruption Act. According to the regional commander, the money has not been recovered and the suspect has not yet been arrested.
2 May 2026 · Informanté →
A 26-year-old man has been arrested in Omusati Region for allegedly murdering a resident of Omuthitugwonyama village by smashing his head with a brick and then mutilating the corpse. The suspect also faces an attempted murder charge for attacking another person who escaped.
1 May 2026 · Informanté →
The Namibian Police in Omusati are investigating law enforcement officers for allegedly abusing a poaching suspect during questioning following an operation in Etosha National Park. The suspect was reportedly subjected to severe physical abuse by a joint team of NDF, NamPol, and Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism officials, resulting in serious injuries, and was taken to hospital for treatment.
30 April 2026 · Informanté →
Members of an anti-poaching unit at Etosha National Park have been accused of assaulting and burning a 35-year-old man during questioning in April following a poaching incident. The officials involved are from the Ministry of Environment and Tourism, Namibian Defence Force, and Namibian Police, and investigations are ongoing.
30 April 2026 · The Namibian →
A 37-year-old domestic worker was arrested after allegedly giving birth and dumping a newborn boy in a pit latrine at Okafitu ka Kahala village in Outapi on Sunday. The case is being investigated as murder and defeating or obstructing the course of justice; Namibia decriminalized baby dumping in 2019 if infants are left unharmed at designated safe places such as hospitals and police stations.
29 April 2026 · The Namibian →
An Angolan national has been arrested in connection with the rape of a 14-year-old girl at Outundungu village in the Omusati region. The suspect, the victim's neighbour, allegedly lured the girl to his house under false pretences and assaulted her; he is due to appear before the Outapi Magistrate's Court on Monday.
24 April 2026 · The Namibian →
A baby was found safe after being taken on 21 April near Okahao District Hospital; a suspect has been arrested. The mother, an Angolan national, had asked the suspect (also Angolan) to hold the child while she searched for a missing shoe, after which both disappeared until police traced them.
23 April 2026 · The Namibian →
A 28-year-old man died when his donkey cart hit a tree stump and overturned in Otamanzi village on Sunday morning. His passenger sustained slight injuries, according to Omusati police.
15 April 2026 · The Namibian →
Pedestrian fatalities in Namibia increased to 47 in the first three months of 2026 from 41 in the same period last year, according to the Motor Vehicle Accident Fund, even as overall pedestrian-related crashes and injuries declined. Police and transport operators cite intoxication, inattention, and poor road conditions as contributing factors, with authorities calling for targeted safety measures in high-risk regions.
14 April 2026 · The Namibian →
A cattle herder in Onkaankaa village discovered human remains, including a skull and bones, in a livestock grazing area last week. Omusati regional police have launched an investigation and say forensic testing is underway to identify the deceased and determine the cause of death, with authorities appealing to the public for information on missing persons in the area.
12 April 2026 · The Namibian →
The 15th Ruacana annual Easter tournament attracted thousands of visitors and 99 teams over the weekend, drawing crowds and vendors to the small border town. Home Affairs Minister Lucia Iipumbu said the event demonstrates how sport can unite communities and stimulate local economic growth through spending on accommodation, transport, and services, though some vendors reported police breathalyser operations near the venue discouraged customers.
8 April 2026 · New Era →
A double cab bakkie struck a donkey cart from behind on the Tsandi–Ongulumbashe road on Saturday evening, injuring four people and killing three donkeys. The driver was allegedly unlicensed, according to the Omusati police regional commander.
6 April 2026 · The Namibian →
Cattle herders in Onkaanka village, Otamanzi constituency, found suspected human remains including head and back bones and navy blue jeans on Thursday. The deceased's identity, date of death, and cause of death remain unknown; bones have been sent for investigation.
4 April 2026 · Informanté →
An Iveco bus struck an elephant on the Omakange–Iitananga main road early Thursday morning; the bus occupants were unharmed but the vehicle was damaged, and the elephant's condition remained unclear as it disappeared into the wilderness.
3 April 2026 · Informanté →