Police in Rwamagana District are holding a 39-year-old man for allegations of torturing three children over alleged theft of his bag and money amounting to Rwf27,500.

Emmanuel Gashema was arrested in Nyarugenge District on Sunday morning.

He allegedly took hostage of the three victims aged 9, 10 and 14, on Saturday night, bundled them in the boot of his car and drove them to Kigali from their village in Nzige, Rwamagana District.

Police spokesperson for the City of Kigali, Emmanuel Hitayezu, said Gashema, after torturing the children, took them to Rwampala Health Centre in Nyarugenge District where he left them with a security guard.

"He didn’t return and the security guard decided to contact the medical staff who attended to the children. The medical staff, in turn, reported the matter to Police and Gashema was arrested the following morning as he came back to check on the children,” Hitayezu said.

"The parents of the children have been located and notified of their safety although the children have since been transferred to Kacyiru District Hospital for further medical checkup. Police will compile a detailed report before forwarding it to prosecution to facilitate the judicial process against the suspect,” he explained.

The suspect is said to have assaulted the children, whose bodies bore bruises.

Hitayezu condemned the act and called on the general public to fight all sorts of child abuse.

"Even when someone wrongs you, you have no right to take matters in your own hands, that makes you a suspected criminal as well; that’s why the justice system was put in place to professionally handle the public’s grievances,” Hitayezu said.

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