The Commissioner for Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Theos Badege, has called upon youth leaders to jealously protect and sustain what the country has achieved in the transformation process.

Badege was Friday addressing 845 youth leaders in sectors and districts in the Southern and Western provinces, currently undergoing a civic education programme – Ingando – at the university of Rwanda-College of Arts and Social Science (UR-CASS) in Huye District.

Also present was the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Youth and ICT, Rosemary Mbabazi.

ACP Badege noted that Rwanda has taken a commendable step in all aspects including security and economic development, but noted that preserving and promoting these achievements was another thing.

"Don’t give any favour to anyone who tries to destroy what Rwandans have worked hard to achieve. You are the powerhouse of this country and your role both in security through community policing and implementation and sustaining government policies and programmes should be among your priorities as well,” he said.

He seized the opportunity to show them photos of youth who were arrested trafficking in narcotics and urged them to fight such vices noting that it was one of the threats to youth development, affecting their education, health and their characters and ultimately the country in general.

Badege also enlightened to them on the emerging threat of modern-day slavery – human trafficking – the tricks traffickers use and appealed to them to always report strangers or other people that may attempt to seduce them with promises abroad.

One of the youth participants Achille Mpagazehe, who hails from Nyabirasi Sector in Rutsiro District, said the lecture was an eye opener to many on cross-section of issues related to security like human trafficking, and their role in promoting safety and peace.