Correctional officer threatens girlfriend's lover, goes into hiding

After threatening another man with a gun on Sunday, an Oluno Correctional Facility officer has gone into hiding.

The man, who was reportedly embroiled in a love triangle, suspects that the victim had sexual relations with his girlfriend – despite them being in the middle of lobola negotiations.

Police in the Oshana Region have opened a case of attempted murder, assault by threat and discharge of a firearm in a municipal area. Both men reportedly thought they were in a monogamous relationship with the woman in question.

Head of the Oshana community policing subdivision, Inspector Thomas Aiyambo, confirmed the incident, adding that the victim allegedly received a text message late on Sunday night, inviting him to the woman’s home. A few minutes after he arrived, he heard a car outside.

“The girlfriend then told the complainant that her boyfriend had arrived, that he is dangerous, and that he [the complainant] must hide in the toilet. He hid as per request and the boyfriend came in the room,” Aiyambo said.

After a few minutes, the victim decided to leave his hiding place, which led to the suspect chasing after him. “The suspect chased him, but couldn't catch him,” he said.

‘I’ll deal with you’

According to Aiyambo, when the victim realised he was no longer being chased, he stopped running, but the suspect then came after him in a car.

“The driver got out and he chased him on foot and started firing shots in his [the victim’s] direction,” the police said.

During the altercation, the suspect grabbed the victim by his shirt and forced him into the car.

Aiyambo said the suspect drove back to “their girlfriend’s place” and threatened the victim on the way that he was “going to deal with him”.

After he was eventually released at a dumping site, the victim walked home and then went to the police station to open a case.

AWOL

According to the police, the correctional officer had been on night shift on Sunday, and after he had dropped off his shift members, he visited his girlfriend – finding her with the other man.

Aiyambo added that the suspect has not reported for duty since the incident.

Meanwhile, “the girlfriend went for a week-long leave to her home village at Eenhana. Her phone is off, [but] she is [expected] to return towards the end of this week so that her statement is obtained”, he said.

By yesterday afternoon, the police had not managed to trace the suspect or the girlfriend, but investigations continue.

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