Rwanda National Police

Five people have been arrested in City of Kigali for allegedly violating the curfew and undermining Police orders.

The violators were paraded to the media this Friday at Kigali metropolitan in Remera. All the violators are drivers and motorcyclists, who sped away after they were directed by the Police to park their automobiles. Two of the suspects are driver while three others are taxi-moto operators.

Jean Marie Habineza, 37, a taxi-moto operator and one of the suspects, said that he recently transported goods to Rulindo. On the way back, he was stopped in Kimisagara at about 10 PM and ordered to take his motorcycle to Kigali stadium.

“Police officers stopped me, seized my traffic-related documents and told me to take the motorcycle to Kigali stadium, instead I deviate and rode home,” Habineza explained.

All the violators were arrested separately as they came back to collect their confiscated traffic documents. They share a similar story of how they disregarded Police orders and sped-off, and regret the illegal behaviors.

Rwanda National Police (RNP) spokesperson, CP John Bosco Kabera observed that the suspects are among the people with “inappropriate behaviors” and disregard intentionally the measures put in place to prevent further spread of COVID-19.

“The directives are meant for the safety of everyone and must be respected. It is the duty of the Police to ensure that they are respected, and we expected everyone to abide by the orders given to them by a Police officer on duty. 

Stop if you are required to do so and go where they tell you to go. Disrespecting them and undermining their orders is punishable by law,” CP Kabera warned.

He urged the public to ensure maximum respect for the directives rather than being forced or arrested.

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