Taxi-moto operators have been urged to strengthen their cooperation with security organs to fight and prevent crime, especially theft of their motorcyles and other belongings.

The call was made by officials during a meeting with taxi-moto operators at Kicukiro Stadium in Kigali yesterday.

The meeting focused on streamlining the profession of commercial motorcyclists and to woo them to be active in community policing initiatives.

There has been a spate of theft of motorcycles and speculations of "killings of motorcyclists,” which Rwanda National Police said were hyper-reported.

Elias Mwesigye, the Central Regional Police commander, urged the motorcyclists to refrain from such "false speculations” and instead join security organs to fight even the few cases that still exist.

Officials said some of the offences are facilitated or orchestrated by motorisits themseleves.

"Two motorcyclists were killed but not eight as claimed by some, and two key suspects have so far been arrested. Killing or injuring one person, or even stealing one motorcycle cannot be tolerated. These evil motives and actions should be fought by all through vigilance and timely information sharing,” Mwesigye said.  

At the same meeting, Police paraded eight suspects arrested in crackdown operations against motorcycle theft.

Those arrested include sellers of disassembled motorcycle parts in Nyabugogo, those who were allegedly connecting thieves to potential buyers, the supplier of drugs used to lace drinks of targeted motorcyclists, and those accused of using master-keys to steal motorcycles.