By Rochelle Neidel
TSUMEB – Oshikoto Police Chief Inspector Stephan Nuuyi has urged the public to stop using police officers as undertakers and doctors in some sort, by asking them to attend to incidents of natural deaths and illness.
“We have been observing that in the Oshikoto Region people call police to intervene at natural deaths and that is not our job. We are only required to intervene if there is suspected foul play with a death,” he said.
He maintained that the police only normally act should the death of a person be self-inflicted or when there are suspicions that someone may have been killed by another person.
Nuuyi said some people go as far as asking the police to transport corpses to the graveyard for burial, claiming they are in dire need of help.
“Yes the police are there to help communities but it is not our job, natural deaths should be handled by health professionals and funeral arrangements should be made with relevant funeral undertakers,” he said.
Nuuyi also noted that some members of the public tend to call the police to sort out simple domestic matters unrelated to breaking the law.
“We get called just to be told someone does not want to drink their medication – as police are we supposed to be arresting people who make their own decisions? No, this cannot be allowed, people should not use police to scare others.”
He encouraged the public to come forth with issues relating to infringement of laws and consult only when there are suspicions of unlawfulness.
“We will enforce the law, with the help of the community but it seems like some members want to abuse the powers of the police force with their own agendas.”
He further urged the public to work together this festive season to curb any acts of violence and other serious crime.