Police guns for ‘xenophobic wars’
Pini Bothoko | Monday July 11, 2022 06:00
Mmegi has learnt that some Nigerians allegedly based in South Africa are behind the robbery with intentions to protect themselves and fight back during the impending xenophobic attacks.
Information reaching Mmegi is that the police have since taken the two arrested suspects with them to South Africa on the trail of the guns and ammunition.
The two arrested Batswana suspects, Isaac Tshepiso Molale (36) of Ditshukudung ward, Mmakgori village and Leatile Kingsely Modise (24) of Phase 2 in Gaborone were recently arraigned before the Lobatse Magistrates Court facing a single count of aggravated robbery.
The duo and other two suspects still on the run, allegedly stormed the police station in the wee hours of June 28, 2022 and made away with 14 AK47 rifles, five pistols and undisclosed ammunitions. At the time of the robbery, the gang made up of four men were armed with axes and knives and allegedly used violence in order to retain the said stolen goods.
On the fateful day, the suspects tied down two female police officers who were on duty with cables and locked them in the radio room and headed to the armoury. To date, the police have not yet recovered the stolen guns.
However, last Thursday the Botswana Police Service (BPS)’ public relations officer, superintendent Selinah Omphile assured the nation that the service has instituted an intensive and focused investigation as it is convinced that the matter was the work of an organised criminal syndicate.
“We have since activated all the necessary protocols and measures to apprehend the culprits. In the meantime, we would like to assure the public of our total commitment and dedication to delivering on our mandate of providing a safe and secure environment. We promise to continue improving the manner in which we carry out the business and reinforce where we identify gaps,” said Omphile then.
Asked about their trip to South Africa on the trail of the guns and ammunition, director of Criminal Investigation, Nunu Lesetedi, alleged to have led the police team to South Africa dismissed the allegations as false.
“I cannot comment anything in relation to those allegations, please contact the Goodhope police. They are the ones investigating the matter,” said Lesetedi.
For years there have been reports of xenophobic attacks in South Africa with a number of people both locals and foreigners killed. The attacks back date as far as 1994 when armed youth gangs of Alexandra township in the outskirts of Johannesburg destroyed homes and property of suspected undocumented migrants.
There have been reports of South Africans accusing foreigners of fuelling crime hence should go back to their home countries because they are changing the nature of South African society with their goods and enjoying wealth that should have been for the local people.
In 2019, xenophobic attacks escalated dramatically in Johannesburg and Pretoria with locals targeting Nigerians, looting their businesses, burnt and destroyed them resulting in Nigerians with family members staying in South Africa pressuring the government to evacuate Nigerian migrants.
Then, Nigerians were reported to have taken a tougher stance in the face of the new wave of xenophobic violence by taking decisive measures against South Africans. One wonders if indeed the allegations are true that the stolen guns will be used in xenophobic attacks as alleged.