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Kinyarwanda
Rwanda National Police (RNP) has called on the public to always report their grievances and misunderstandings rather than put the law in their hands which usually brings about regrettable consequences.
The call stems from an incident in Gasabo District, Ndera Cell, on March 22, when RNP detained a man identified as Augustine Habiyambere, 44, for allegedly stabbing his colleague in the chest with a knife over a debt dispute of Rwf2, 000.
The victim, Emmanuel Nshimiyimana, 20, was rushed to the Central University Teaching Hospital of Kigali (CHUK) for treatment while his attacker is detained at Rusororo Police Station as further investigations continue.
The Police Spokesperson for Central Region, Superintendent Modeste Mbabazi, said that the incident was "regrettable and should never have happened if the two individuals had sought for mediation rather than resorting to violence."
“There is nothing good that comes from putting the law in your own hands, because, you may end up breaking the law and committing a terrible offense and yourself becoming a criminal,” Superintendent Mbabazi said.
“Police's doors are open to anyone who has a complaint or grievance to report, and we are capable of investigating and resolving them. Other than that, there are local leaders at the grassroots level who can be approached in case of a misunderstanding. There is no excuse, whatsoever, for such acts of violence that may end up escalating.”
Rwanda National Police acquired three Mobile Police Vehicle trucks, which are currently traversing in remote areas across the country where people reside far from Police services, collecting their complaints for appropriate action.
Considering that the incident was first reported to police by witnesses, Superintendent Mbabazi commended the public for adhering to the call of community policing, through which they enabled Police to arrive at the scene in time to apprehend the suspect and rush the victim to hospital.
He also attributed assault cases to drug abuse and drunkenness, and urged citizens to abstain and fight abuse of drugs in order to safeguard the community from violence and crime.
