Rwanda National Police

Rwanda National Police (RNP) has arrested three suspected robbers in Rulindo District suspected of breaking into houses where they stole assorted valuables and attacking people with machetes at night.

The trio of Theophile Maniraguha, Jean de Dieu Bizimana, Bernard Nizongabire was arrested on Friday, April 8, in Nyakambu Village, Kajevuba Cell in  Ntarabana Sector.

Superintendent of Police (SP) Alex Ndayisenga said that Police recovered assorted stolen items from the suspects, including a satellite decoder, two weighing scales, home theater and money amounting to Frw12,760.

"On Friday at about 3am, Police received a distress call from a resident in Nyakambu Village reported a group of three men armed with machetes, who had mounted a roadblock in the area where they had stopped a commuter taxi and robbing people. Police arrested all the three thieves at the scene," SP Ndayisenga explained.

During the operation, he added, Police also recovered two bags from the thieves containing assorted electronic stolen items.

"Earlier that night, the three suspects armed with machetes, broke into a house in Nyagatoma village, Nkoto cell, Rutare sector in Gicumbi District where they stole the electronic items. That night, they also attacked and injured a taxi-driver identified as Twagirumukiza Theogene, on the head as he was returning home from work, and stole other valuables from him," SP Ndayisenga said.

Maniraguha Theophile and Bizimana Jean de Dieu were released from prison recently after completing their sentence for related crimes.

SP Ndayisenga thanked the resident, who reported the criminal ring leading to their arrest.

The suspects were handed over to RIB at Ntarabana station.

Article 166 of law determining offences and penalties in general states that; any person convicted of theft is liable to imprisonment for a term of not less than one (1) year and not more than two (2) years and a fine of not less than Frw1 million and not more than Frw2 million, community service in a period of six (6) months or only one of these penalties.

In article 167, the penalty for theft doubles if the offender committed the crime through burglary, climbing or possession of keys other than the owner; the theft is carried out during the night or the theft is carried out by more than one (1) person.