Child porn, prostitution give Shikongo sleepless nights

Inspector General of of the Namibian Police Joseph Shikongo has raised serious concerns about the increasing exploitation of children, including the distribution of child pornography and rising incidents of child prostitution. He made these remarks during a press briefing held yesterday morning."We cannot overstate the gravitas of this situation because these crimes are not just crimes against individual children, but crimes against humanity, society, and the very principles of decency and justice," Shikongo emphasized.Inspector General Shikongo called on parents, educators, and guardians to remain alert to protect children from exploitation. "We encourage parents, educators, and guardians to remain vigilant. Know what your children are doing, educate them about the dangers of immoral activities, and encourage open communication," he urged.Regional concernsShikongo identified several regions—Omusati, Oshikoto, Ohangwena, Kavango East, and Kavango West—as hotspots for child rape cases. He attributed some of these cases to traditional mindsets or negligence in child supervision.“In some cases, it may be a matter of traditional thinking, and in others, it may involve foreigners working here, such as shepherds, who are entrusted with children,” he explained.The Namibian Police, Shikongo said, is working closely with its gender-based violence (GBV) units to educate communities about child abuse. However, he emphasized that the responsibility to protect children also lies with parents."Parents, don’t leave your children alone in the house with boys. You go to the shebeens for the day, and when you come back, something has happened. Teach children to report suspicious behavior from anyone," Shikongo advised.Cybercrime on the riseHighlighting another alarming trend, Shikongo discussed the growing prevalence of cybercrime, including the online exploitation of children."Cybercrime has become a phenomenon, and today, everyone—even at Interpol—is focusing on this issue. This is a new phenomenon for us," he admitted.Despite these challenges, Namibia has taken steps to build its capacity to combat cybercrime. "We have established a cybercrime unit, and in cases like cryptocurrency-related crimes, we’ve sought assistance from Interpol," Shikongo said.A call to actionShikongo reiterated that while the police are committed to addressing these crimes, collective action is necessary. "If you ask us to look into a cybercrime, we will do something about it. There is capacity, but we need to improve on it," he concluded.The Inspector General’s remarks come as Namibia grapples with increasing incidents of child abuse and exploitation, highlighting the urgent need for community-wide vigilance and global collaboration to protect the nation’s children.

Child porn, prostitution give Shikongo sleepless nights

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Namibian Sun 2025-04-04

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Child porn, prostitution give Shikongo sleepless nights

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Namibian Sun 2025-04-04

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