WINDHOEK – Five ‘struggle kids’ were arrested on Saturday at about 8am by the Namibian Police Special Reserve Force after allegedly breaking into a police station.
They were part of the group of 20 ‘struggle kids’ who broke into the Katutura Police Station on Friday at 00:00 demanding the release of a fellow ‘struggle kid’ who was arrested for smashing someone’s vehicle window, Head of the Police Public Relations Department Deputy Commissioner Edwin Kanguitjivi informed the media yesterday.
Kanguitjivi said they allegedly broke the burglar bars separating the police’s offices from the public area, entered the station and freed their comrade.
There are usually three or four officers on duty, Kanguatjivi replied when asked how it was possible that they managed to break into the station and free their comrade before leaving right under the noses of the police.
“Now you want to say police officers are cowards. If they would have used force you would have said they used excessive force,” he added.
He also said that on Friday at about 21:30, a 49-year-old man and teacher at Ekoka Combined School in Okongo Constituency allegedly went on a shooting rampage with a 9mm Baikal pistol at Oshiviya shebeen in Ondibo village. He allegedly wounded Constable David Haimbodi, 25, an off-duty police officer, on the upper left eye and narrowly missed another civilian with two shots.
It is alleged the incident was sparked by beer belonging to the police officer and which the suspect finished, and when confronted, he took out a firearm and allegedly attempted to kill both the civilian and the police officer.
The wounded police officer was admitted to the Oshakati State Hospital in a critical condition. The suspect was arrested and will appear in the Ohangwena Magistrate’s Court today.