By Marx Itamalo|
Inmates in the holding cells at Oshikango police station are said to be starving, with the suspected offenders allegedly receiving only one meal per day since last week.
According to reliable sources, the inmates have been receiving only lunch, since Thursday last week, something which is depriving them of proper nutritious requirements.
“There is a serious problem at the Oshikango police station. People are starving there. The inmates are only receiving one meal, which is lunch. The food is not even good. The commanders know but I don’t know why they are turning a blind eye,” a relative of an inmate told this publication.
She said that as a result, relatives and friends of inmates are now forced to take food to the inmates on a daily basis instead of once in a week as it has been done.
“Typically, visits were only done Sundays. That is when we used to visit our relatives, but now you have to go at least every day because people are only being fed once,” she said.
Another relative of an inmate who had been in custody for three months, told Omutumwa News Online that although some police officers allow visits each day because of the situation, there are those who refuse visits.
“How do you refuse visits and food to be given to the inmates when there is no enough food at the station? Do they want our relatives to die of starvation? It’s totally inhuman. They should rectify the mistake and tame the situation,” he stressed.
On Tuesday, this publication visited the station and noticed a large number of visitors who had brought food to their relatives and friends. Although contact visits are only done on Sundays, the visitors were allowed to hand over the items to the inmates.
A police source at the station confirmed the shortage of the food. He however, informed this reporter that the situation was being addressed.
“Yes, there has been a shortage and the problem is being solved. I think from tomorrow, they (inmates) will have normal meals which are two meals per day, lunch and supper with tea in the mornings.
“I think the logistics department did not put in the orders early as it should be and this led to a delay. From tomorrow, I think everything will be okay,” he stressed.
Efforts to obtain comment from Ohangwena police spokesman as well as the regional commander proved futile as questions sent were not answered by the time of publishing the story.
In October 2023, the Oshikango police station was also in the news, when allegations of the abuse of the inmates surfaced. The police at the time denied the allegations.
In the photo: Oshikango Police Station.
