Rwanda National Police

The Rwanda National Police has continued its elevated anti-drugs campaigns in schools in Groupe Scolaire de Nyabikenke in Karongi District, where police officers held discussions with students on dangers related to use of illicit drugs.

The youth are the majority drug users with drug dealers targeting schools to recruit students in this criminal business.

Inspector of Police (IP) Jean Baptiste Rutebuka, Karongi District   Police Liaison Officer, while meeting students of Groupe Scolaire de Nyabikenke on Monday, enlightened them with the common types of drugs in Rwanda, their respective effects, how to avoid them and their contribution in fighting those drugs.

IP Rutebuka explained to the students that drug abuse among the youth is one of the factors attributed to school drop-outs, while it partly threatens their security.

He further pointed out that one of the common drugs in schools is cannabis, also known as marijuana, and consumption of illicit liquor

“Drug abuse has an effect on someone’s state of mind. Anyone who consumes such substances can’t perform well in class or even succeed in life. You should ensure you protect your future,” IP Rutebuka advised the students.

“Some students perform poorly in schools because they engage in drug abuse and consume illicit brew. This also results into violence because they are under influence of these drugs; they engage in theft, assault, fornication or adultery and they end up having unplanned pregnancies through which some of them contract STDs,” he added.

Article 594 of the penal code states that ‘any person, who consumes, injects, inhales , anoints him/herself with or makes any other unlawful use of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances shall be liable to a term of imprisonment of year to three years and a fine of Rwf50, 000 to 500, 000.

The anti-drugs campaigns have also been conducted in different school and communities across the country.

IP Rutebuka exploited the opportunity to educate the students about their rights and ask them to report cases of drug abuse and any person who violates their rights.

He further spoke at length about human trafficking urging them to not listen to anyone who promises them decent jobs abroad under the guise of trafficking them for personal ends.

“Normally, a trafficker will tell you not to tell anyone about the deal, take away all your identifications and the next thing is you will be subjected to forced labour or sexual exploitation,” he said.

Rutebuka asked the school administration to always allocate time to students and engage them in effects of drug abuse.

Belthilde Mukantaganzwa, the director of the school, urged the students to take the advice from police seriously and thanked the police for its continued quest in ensuring that the society is free from drugs.

One of the students, Clemence Niyigena, said; “I’ve been hearing about human trafficking but I didn’t know the incidents that could lead to a person being trafficked and how I can avoid it. These discussions have enlightened my understanding and has given me a reason to be on a more safer side.”