Gobabis cops held hostage

A GROUP of crime suspects in an overcrowded Gobabis Police cell on Sunday overpowered four Police officers and held them hostage for over five hours, The Namibian has learned.

However, details of the hostage drama remained sketchy yesterday as the Police bosses have reportedly tried to keep a lid on the “embarrassing” incident. Police yesterday promised a statement on the incident, but no information had been released by the time of going to press.Sources at the eastern town told The Namibian that the four officers were rescued by the newly established Police anti-terrorism unit, which travelled to Gobabis from Windhoek, reportedly accompanied by Police Inspector General Sebastian Ndeitunga and another unnamed top cop.Members of the Namibia Defence Force were also said to have been involved in the rescue operation.Well-placed sources said the four Police officers were overpowered by trial-awaiting prisoners when they opened the holding cells.They were then locked in together with the suspects who, according to sources, had no intention of escaping.The hostage-takers instead demanded, among others, better living conditions in the Police cells.The Namibian has it on good authority that the Police unsuccessfully tried to negotiate with the group for more than five hours.According to one report on the rescue operation, the team broke into the cells through the roof, jumped the prisoners and beat them up.Yet another source said they “stormed into the cells” through door and “a bit of force was used to overpower the suspects”.Sources claimed that several of the trial-awaiting prisoners were assaulted in the rescue operation and that up to 16 “ring leaders” had since been identified and transferred to different prisons and Police holding cells throughout the country.Some of the trial-awaiting prisoners who were allegedly assaulted have since been taken to hospitals at Gobabis and in Windhoek for treatment.It was not clear yesterday whether any Police officers or members of the group that foiled the hostage drama were also injured in the tussle with the prisoners.Earlier yesterday, Police spokesperson Chief Inspector Hieronymus !Goraseb promised to respond to questions faxed to his office by The Namibian.It was also established that a formal investigation would be launched to establish how the trial-awaiting prisoners overpowered the four officers and what steps needed to be taken to prevent such incidents in the future.Police yesterday promised a statement on the incident, but no information had been released by the time of going to press.Sources at the eastern town told The Namibian that the four officers were rescued by the newly established Police anti-terrorism unit, which travelled to Gobabis from Windhoek, reportedly accompanied by Police Inspector General Sebastian Ndeitunga and another unnamed top cop.Members of the Namibia Defence Force were also said to have been involved in the rescue operation.Well-placed sources said the four Police officers were overpowered by trial-awaiting prisoners when they opened the holding cells.They were then locked in together with the suspects who, according to sources, had no intention of escaping. The hostage-takers instead demanded, among others, better living conditions in the Police cells.The Namibian has it on good authority that the Police unsuccessfully tried to negotiate with the group for more than five hours.According to one report on the rescue operation, the team broke into the cells through the roof, jumped the prisoners and beat them up.Yet another source said they “stormed into the cells” through door and “a bit of force was used to overpower the suspects”.Sources claimed that several of the trial-awaiting prisoners were assaulted in the rescue operation and that up to 16 “ring leaders” had since been identified and transferred to different prisons and Police holding cells throughout the country.Some of the trial-awaiting prisoners who were allegedly assaulted have since been taken to hospitals at Gobabis and in Windhoek for treatment.It was not clear yesterday whether any Police officers or members of the group that foiled the hostage drama were also injured in the tussle with the prisoners.Earlier yesterday, Police spokesperson Chief Inspector Hieronymus !Goraseb promised to respond to questions faxed to his office by The Namibian.It was also established that a formal investigation would be launched to establish how the trial-awaiting prisoners overpowered the four officers and what steps needed to be taken to prevent such incidents in the future.