Niël Terblanché
Police have recovered N$55 000 and a getaway vehicle used in an armed robbery at the Namcor Soweto Service Station in Katutura.
According to Deputy Commissioner Kauna Shikwambi, one of the suspects was arrested after being shot in the leg during a confrontation with city police officers. Four other suspects fled and remain at large, with a manhunt underway.
The robbery occurred around 09h00 on Monday when five armed individuals arrived in a black sedan with a fake number plate. They stormed both the fuel station and the adjacent Pick n Pay Express store.
A 39-year-old employee was held at gunpoint while the robbers took N$176 635 in cash, two mobile phones, and a handbag. The suspects struck just as the day’s cash was being prepared for handover to an armed security company.
The owner of the service station said the timing of the robbery appeared too precise to be coincidental and believes inside information may have been used.
Namcor issued a statement on Tuesday confirming the incident but clarified that the Soweto Service Station operates under a Dealer-Owned Dealer-Operated (DODO) model.
“Namcor is only the supplier of fuel and branding services to the respective dealers,” the statement said.
The company added that it did not suffer any financial loss and expressed support for the affected dealer.
Shikwambi said the arrested suspect will face charges of robbery with aggravating circumstances and attempted murder. She urged the public to share any information that could help track down the remaining suspects.
