Rwanda National Police

The youth have a very important role to play in turning back crime by being active ambassadors anti drugs campaigns in their schools and communities.

Rwanda National Police (RNP) delivered the message  on March 12 to over 800 students of  GS  Akumunigo Secondary School in Nyarugenge District.

During the seminar, Inspector of Police Seraphine Nyirandikubwimana, from the Community Policing Department, told the students about the dangers of consuming illicit brew and narcotics and also reminded them to be aware of people who lure young people especially girls into human trafficking by promising them expensive gifts and wealthy lives.

“Drug addicts most especially the youth are a deterrent to the development of our country. Instead of wasting your lives by consuming drugs and joining violent gangs, study hard and become the people who will lead Rwanda in the future, she said.

"You should be ambassadors of peace and lawfulness by sensitising your fellow youth and communities against the consumption and trade of narcotics. Young girls and boys should also be wary of any individuals, whether relatives, friends or strangers, who lure them into human trafficking where they become sex slaves or labour slaves in other countries."

The Director of GS Akumunigo,  Ildebrande Nzabandora commended Police for extending the message to the school and also raised the need for the public and youth to work together with security organs in crime prevention.

"Be patriotic enough and ensure that you report anything that affects your community. Even if drugs or human trafficking do not affect you directly, report them as soon as you can to Police to ensure that they do not affect your fellow countrymen,  she said.

Rwanda National Police continuously reaches out to schools and the youth in general - and has trained over 600 members of the Rwanda Youth Volunteers in Crime Prevention Organisation (RYVCPO) on crime prevention.

The organization is composed of about 7, 000 members countrywide including students, who supports vulnerable communities by giving them medical insurance, livestock and carryout crime prevention awareness programmes in schools and communities against drug abuse, corruption and gender and domestic violence, among others.

Reaching out to youth is a core strategy that RNP implements in  bid to promote safety and the rule of law.