Rwanda National Police (RNP) said that despite a “few isolated cases”, the security situation in the festive holidays was relatively calm, which the force attributed the existing policing partnership with the public.
RNP says that relatively few road accidents were recorded during this festive season
Addressing a press briefing on the security status during the festivities, yesterday, the Commissioner for Traffic and Road Safety, CP George Rumanzi said: “Generally, people enjoyed their festivities in with utmost security. Unlike previous years, this year we witnessed fewer road-related incidents.”
“Between December, 2016 and January 02, 2017, road accidents claimed eight lives and injured six others. 11 vehicles that were being driven by people, who were drunk, were impounded and culprits penalised before they were later released,” CP Rumanzi said.
“We thank Rwandans for being major players in maintaining and ensuring this level of security,” he added.
He noted that the world is evolving where terrorists use varied means to carryout terror activities.
“We live in a world where terrorists are using vehicles to move explosives to public places and blow up people; when a vehicle rams into a check point at night and proceeds to a restricted area, there should be a way of stopping it because you can’t be sure what it is carrying.”
Speaking about the general crime situation during the festive season, the acting Commissioner for Criminal Investigations Department (CID), ACP Morris Murigo said: “Between December 22 to date, 22 people were arrested in connection with consumption of narcotics, counterfeit money and petty theft among other crimes.”
He also noted that crime rates in 2016 dropped by 12 per cent in the first three quarters compared to the same period of 2015.
While commending the way events such as musical shows and religious celebrations were organized, the Commissioner for Community Policing, ACP Celestin Twahirwa, said: “This kind of partnership and respect of other people’s rights and beliefs should even define the New Year 2017.”
“Generally, people enjoyed their festivities with respect and minding their security, there were no issues of sound pollution like before and we thank Rwandans for being major players in maintaining and ensuring this level of security,” ACP Twahirwa said.
He appealed to the general population to exploit the police communication facilities like social media, website, toll free numbers like 110 (marine), 111 (fire and rescue), 112 (emergency), 113 (traffic accident), 3512 (gender based violence) and 116 for child helpline in case they need help or intervention from Rwanda National Police.
