Woman chased with panga finds refuge in police arms
A 29-year-old woman survived an attack at the hands of her boyfriend on Tuesday afternoon which saw her running to the Oshana Police headquarters for refuge.
A distraught Bianca Poolman arrived at the headquarters in Oshakati’s Evululuko in tears and told police spokesperson, Inspector Thomas Aiyambo, that her 25-year-old boyfriend had been chasing her with a panga and threatened to kill her.
He advised her to open a case so that her boyfriend could be arrested, and added that death threats are very serious issues and should not be taken lightly.
‘I ignored the threats’
Poolman later agreed to share her ordeal with Namibian Sun.
She said her boyfriend, a known criminal, is currently wanted by the police.
“I didn’t take the threats seriously a couple of days ago. When I realised they were being uttered every day and he got more and more aggressive, I moved out of the room I share with my uncle on Monday and slept over at my friend’s house in Ongwediva,” she said.
When she returned home on Tuesday, her uncle informed her that her boyfriend was furious, and that he was looking for her. Before they could finish their conversation, her boyfriend showed up at their door and started attacking her, she said.
“He threatened to cut open my stomach and remove my intestines. He then went outside and began pouring petrol around the shack with the intention of burning it down.”
She managed to escape and ran towards the police headquarters. Her boyfriend ran after her with the panga, and onlookers watched as she ran for her life, she narrated.
He turned back when he saw her entering the headquarters’ gates.
Her left arm was swollen when she arrived – a result of her boyfriend’s beatings, she said.
“We have been dating for three years. He was in jail the whole of last year. He came out in March this year. He is usually not a violent person. These days he is smoking a lot, maybe those things are messing with his head,” Poolman said.
Adamant
Asked whether she was going through with the case – as many victims of gender-based violence (GBV) often withdraw cases made against their partners - Poolman was adamant that she would not change her mind.
“That person broke me down emotionally, physically and mentally. Why would I take him back or withdraw the case? He is a threat to my life!
“If I withdraw the case, that means I enjoy being beaten, which I do not. If he kills me one day, then my family cannot do anything any more because I was enjoying it,” she stressed.
Poolman added she had to think of her three children, who currently live in Otjiwarongo with her mother.
She urged other women in abusive relationships to run for help, and not to take threats lightly.
“Even though it is so hard to lose the person you love, at the end of the day, your life matters more. Think about your children and your family,” she said.
No case opened
A sobbing Poolman was accompanied to a charge office by police officers so she could open a case.
She was set to be kept there for her safety until her boyfriend was arrested.
However, yesterday morning, Aiyambo told Namibian Sun that Poolman had – in fact – not opened a case, and left the charge office instead.
“I do not know why she did not do as instructed. I keep begging with the public that should anyone threaten your life, come to the police and report it so the person can be arrested before they carry out their threats,” Aiyambo said.
A distraught Bianca Poolman arrived at the headquarters in Oshakati’s Evululuko in tears and told police spokesperson, Inspector Thomas Aiyambo, that her 25-year-old boyfriend had been chasing her with a panga and threatened to kill her.
He advised her to open a case so that her boyfriend could be arrested, and added that death threats are very serious issues and should not be taken lightly.
‘I ignored the threats’
Poolman later agreed to share her ordeal with Namibian Sun.
She said her boyfriend, a known criminal, is currently wanted by the police.
“I didn’t take the threats seriously a couple of days ago. When I realised they were being uttered every day and he got more and more aggressive, I moved out of the room I share with my uncle on Monday and slept over at my friend’s house in Ongwediva,” she said.
When she returned home on Tuesday, her uncle informed her that her boyfriend was furious, and that he was looking for her. Before they could finish their conversation, her boyfriend showed up at their door and started attacking her, she said.
“He threatened to cut open my stomach and remove my intestines. He then went outside and began pouring petrol around the shack with the intention of burning it down.”
She managed to escape and ran towards the police headquarters. Her boyfriend ran after her with the panga, and onlookers watched as she ran for her life, she narrated.
He turned back when he saw her entering the headquarters’ gates.
Her left arm was swollen when she arrived – a result of her boyfriend’s beatings, she said.
“We have been dating for three years. He was in jail the whole of last year. He came out in March this year. He is usually not a violent person. These days he is smoking a lot, maybe those things are messing with his head,” Poolman said.
Adamant
Asked whether she was going through with the case – as many victims of gender-based violence (GBV) often withdraw cases made against their partners - Poolman was adamant that she would not change her mind.
“That person broke me down emotionally, physically and mentally. Why would I take him back or withdraw the case? He is a threat to my life!
“If I withdraw the case, that means I enjoy being beaten, which I do not. If he kills me one day, then my family cannot do anything any more because I was enjoying it,” she stressed.
Poolman added she had to think of her three children, who currently live in Otjiwarongo with her mother.
She urged other women in abusive relationships to run for help, and not to take threats lightly.
“Even though it is so hard to lose the person you love, at the end of the day, your life matters more. Think about your children and your family,” she said.
No case opened
A sobbing Poolman was accompanied to a charge office by police officers so she could open a case.
She was set to be kept there for her safety until her boyfriend was arrested.
However, yesterday morning, Aiyambo told Namibian Sun that Poolman had – in fact – not opened a case, and left the charge office instead.
“I do not know why she did not do as instructed. I keep begging with the public that should anyone threaten your life, come to the police and report it so the person can be arrested before they carry out their threats,” Aiyambo said.
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