Three arrested for human trafficking
Valentine Rukimbira and Walter Bwanakweli are held at Kicukiro Police station (Photo: RNP Media Center)
Police in Kicukiro District have arrested three men suspected for human trafficking. In the first incidence, Police arrested Valentine Rukimbira and Walter Bwanakweli from Nyarugenge Sector and Kicukiro District respectively as they planned to take five young girls to China.
The girls were intercepted as they tried to cross into Uganda at Gatuna border crossing. “A Man called Walter approached us and said there were jobs in China’s supermarkets and hotels.
He said was willing to help us get there by helping pay for our travel documents and air tickets,” One of the young girls said. Bwanakweli admitted to have planned to send the girls to china but with the intention to finding them jobs.
In another incident Police apprehended another man identified as Gabriel Ngendabanga 47, from Gasabo District at Kigali International airport as he was about to transport two young men and a girl to Europe. Ngendabanga claimed that he intended to travel with the three to help out in several flower shows he was staging in Europe.
According to Police sources the four were to fly to Czech Republic through Ethiopia. The three suspects are currently detained at Kicukiro Police station as investigations continue.
Some of the girls who were meant to be taken to China (Photo: RNP Media Center)
Police Spokesperson Superintendent Theos Badege said that human trafficking In Rwanda is not a common crime but that Police was always on the lookout in case such criminal incidences happen. “It’s not something that happens every day but we also make sure that people’s travel circumstances are clear,” Badege said.
He warned people not to easily accept promises from strangers as they may be having their own interests. Police calls on Parents, guardians as well as other citizens not to get swayed by gifts, freebies, money or promises for an education and better life for their children from strangers.
