Forty-one people have been arrested in separate operations in Nyanza District after they were found holding prohibited social gatherings and drinking. They were arrested in Rwanda National Police (RNP) operations conducted on July 7 and 8, to enforce the Cabinet directives on preventing the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Those arrested include 19 people, who were found gathered and drinking locally made illicit brew, in a forested located in Gihisi B Village, Kavumu Cell of Busasamana Sector, Nyanza District.
The Southern region Police spokesperson, Superintendent of Police (SP) Theobald Kanamugire said that the group in forest was found at about 7pm.
“On July 7, at about 7pm, as Police officers were conducting inspection and enforcement of the Cabinet directives in Kavumu Cell, residents tipped them off about a group of people that was hiding in the forest in Gihisi Village, where one Solange Mukamana had relocated and operating her bar, which sells an illicit brew known in the area as Donda Ubwonko. Police arrested 19 people but others managed to escape,” said SP Kanamugire.
He further explained that another group of 22 violators was arrested on Thursday July 8, in Ntyazo and Mukingo sectors.
SP Kanamugire commended residents, who shared information leading to the arrest of the violators.
He warned the public against disregarding the government directives thus exposing themselves as well as their families and communities to the deadly virus.
The executive secretary for Busasamana sector, Egide Bizimana reminded the violators that the Cabinet measures are meant to save them from the pandemic and should be viewed as their lifeline.
“The government measures are there to guide us to save our lives. Such violations are the cause of the rise in Covid-19 cases and related deaths.
If you engage in such risky prohibited practices or see them and fail to report, you are derailing the national efforts to contain the virus and to save lives,” Bizimana said. (End)