Rwanda National Police

Police in Rwamagana district on December 27 arrested nine people found illegally mining in Ntunga cell of Mwurire sector.

The Eastern Region Police Spokesperson, Inspector of Police (IP), Emmanuel Kayigi, noted that the suspects, were found with about two kilograms of cassetirite at the  at time of their arrest at around 9pm and are currently at Kigabiro Police Station as investigations continue.

The suspects were identified as Aloys Nzabonimana, Aminadabu Nshimiyimana, Etienne Rwabutogo, Alex Nzeyimana, Damascene Ndayisenga, Jean Paul Niyibizi, Felicien Mpuyenabo, Kazehe Sibomana and Elie Ngirabakunzi.

“Discovering minerals does not give anyone the right to mine them. It is a national resource, thus one needs authorization to mine,” IP Kayigi said, adding that: “People should abstain from such illegal deeds that only eyes personal interests but which also puts lives of the illegal miners at risk.”

Illegal mining has at times resulted into disasters in that most of them mine without protective gears and in risky mining zones. This has sometimes resulted into death after some cliffs curve in on the miners.

He also lauded residents in the area for alerting police about activities of illegal miners, saying that it is due to such information that Police is able to act early enough to prevent them from happening.

Illegal mining is punishable under article 438 of the Rwandan  Penal Code, which attracts a jail term of one year in prison and a fine of Rwf3 million to Rwf10 million.