English
Kinyarwanda
About 130 members of COTMERU, a cooperative of motorcycle taxi operators in Rubavu District have formed an anti-crime club in a bid to strengthen their community policing campaign to fight and prevent crimes.
The club was established on November 19 during their meeting convened to discuss their role in community policing.
The motorcyclists elected one of their own – Olivier Turinimana – as the head of their anti-crime club, which they named after ‘Ndi Umunyarwanda (I am a Rwandan).’
Turinimana said: "We do our business profession in a safe and secure environment, so we have to jealously guard what has been achieved but also fight those few cases of insecurity that can impede our business and safety of our communities.”
"This club will therefore help as to contribute to crime prevention in an organized way, exchange information among ourselves and the law enforcers to improve safety and security,” he added.
He challenged his colleagues to respect the rules governing their profession, be vigilant not to aid criminality by transporting wrongdoers and strengthen their collaboration with law enforcers by providing information on suspected criminals or crime.
Inspector of Police (IP) Janvier Nsana, the District Community Liaison Officer (DCLO) of Rubavu, who also attended the meeting, thanked the motorcyclists for taking a step further to prevent criminality by being agents of community policing.
“We are aware of your role in community policing but forming an anti-crime club will enhance your role in strengthening campaign against crimes,” IP Nsana said.
Recently, motorcyclists in Nyabihu district also formed a similar anti-crime club to boost the community policing initiatives in the district.
