Angry mob damages police station in Mondesa
Police and residents of Mondesa clashed on Friday night, leaving a station shattered and officers of the law injured.
ADOLF KAURE
WINDHOEK
The police's regional commander of community affairs in Erongo, Inspector Ileni Shapumba, has warned people who destroyed property and injured three police officers at the Mondesa police station in Swakopmund on Friday that the law will deal with them.
Shapumba said the law would catch up with the instigators who transported people from different parts of Mondesa so that they could help in damaging the property.
“I want to tell those that are instigating other residents that they should have burned the police station instead of just damaging the windows; one day will be one day. We do not do that in a democratic republic.” According to Shapumba, an angry mob attacked the police station after the police had arrested a 34-year-old man for contravening the Covid-19 emergency regulations.
“People gathered at a certain house and were suspected to have been consuming alcohol.
“They got drunk, so our security cluster, which consists of police officers and members of the Namibian Defence Force (NDF), responded to the complaint.”
Shapumba said the police informed the owner of the house that his activity was in contravention of Regulation 6 of the lockdown and he had to tell his friends to leave. “In the process, a fight started between the officers and the owner of the house after he attacked the officers,” he said. The homeowner was arrested and taken to the police station, where he was to be charged with contravening lockdown regulations and obstructing the police in the execution of their duties.
Shapumba said the partygoers followed them to the police station, demanding his release, and they were joined by other residents along the way.
15 arrested
“Something like this has never happened in this town before. At the point when they accompanied him, demanding that he should be released, the officers started talking to mob. During this process, residents from different parts of Mondesa mobilised themselves. “Others used their own vehicles to transport people from different parts of Mondesa to the police station. Others used their vehicles to transport stones that were to be used for the execution of the illegal activities,” he said. Fifteen people have been arrested on charges of malicious damage to property and instigating public violence. They are expected to appear before court today. The Mondesa police station was not the only property damaged; as the mob also damaged a police vehicle and private homes near the police station.
The mob demanded that their friend be released and also said that they wanted to be given houses as promised by President Hage Geingob. They further demanded that the lockdown be lifted.
[email protected]
WINDHOEK
The police's regional commander of community affairs in Erongo, Inspector Ileni Shapumba, has warned people who destroyed property and injured three police officers at the Mondesa police station in Swakopmund on Friday that the law will deal with them.
Shapumba said the law would catch up with the instigators who transported people from different parts of Mondesa so that they could help in damaging the property.
“I want to tell those that are instigating other residents that they should have burned the police station instead of just damaging the windows; one day will be one day. We do not do that in a democratic republic.” According to Shapumba, an angry mob attacked the police station after the police had arrested a 34-year-old man for contravening the Covid-19 emergency regulations.
“People gathered at a certain house and were suspected to have been consuming alcohol.
“They got drunk, so our security cluster, which consists of police officers and members of the Namibian Defence Force (NDF), responded to the complaint.”
Shapumba said the police informed the owner of the house that his activity was in contravention of Regulation 6 of the lockdown and he had to tell his friends to leave. “In the process, a fight started between the officers and the owner of the house after he attacked the officers,” he said. The homeowner was arrested and taken to the police station, where he was to be charged with contravening lockdown regulations and obstructing the police in the execution of their duties.
Shapumba said the partygoers followed them to the police station, demanding his release, and they were joined by other residents along the way.
15 arrested
“Something like this has never happened in this town before. At the point when they accompanied him, demanding that he should be released, the officers started talking to mob. During this process, residents from different parts of Mondesa mobilised themselves. “Others used their own vehicles to transport people from different parts of Mondesa to the police station. Others used their vehicles to transport stones that were to be used for the execution of the illegal activities,” he said. Fifteen people have been arrested on charges of malicious damage to property and instigating public violence. They are expected to appear before court today. The Mondesa police station was not the only property damaged; as the mob also damaged a police vehicle and private homes near the police station.
The mob demanded that their friend be released and also said that they wanted to be given houses as promised by President Hage Geingob. They further demanded that the lockdown be lifted.
[email protected]
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