English
Kinyarwanda
Rwanda National Police has urged members of AGAPE church in Gashaki Sector of Musanze District to use Christianity in educating youths about the dangers of drug abuse.
The call was made early this week during a meeting that drew over 200 followers of AGAPE Church.
In his address to the congregation, the Gashaki Police station commander Inspector of Police (IP) Wilson Byakatonda hailed the role churches play in mobilizing public to refrain from drug abuse through regular awareness campaign they conduct but also asked them to enhance their engagements toward the same cause.
AGAPE Church, in Musanze district in one of the churches in the area that established and now facilitating Anti-Crime Club to fight and prevent crimes particularly those related to drug abuse.
IP Byakatonda urged the followers to always tip Police and other security organs on those that are involved in drug trafficking and consumption to ensure that they are brought to justice.
“Collective efforts especially through adequate information sharing on security related matters, particularly drug abuse, are key to public safety and the development of the church. The ultimate goal is to eliminate drug abuse and protect the people,” he said.
During the same meeting, the Executive Secretary of Gashaki Sector, Jean Dushime, said; “Drug abuse can result in serious behavioral and emotional changes that ultimately destroy a person's life. The negative effects from drug abuse can have immediate and long-term consequences. Careers have been ruined and families have been devastated because of drug abuse. Physical harm or death can result from drug abuse because of reckless behavior by the drug abuser.”
He added that; Addicts of narcotic substances always have a bad ending since they are the ones involved in crimes. They usually commit such offenses when they are under influence of illicit substances that’s why we have to collectively fight them through collective awareness campaigns.”
Bishop Callixte Ntibanyendera, who heads AGAPE Church in Northern region, challenged church followers to adhere to the security advice extended to them by Police and local leaders.
