RUSIZI – Police in Bugarama sector in Rusizi district are holding three traders for buying fertilisers that were meant for farmers in Muganza and Bugarama sectors.

Samuel Munyankindi, Christopher Bizimana, and Daniel Ndimirabandi were arrested on Wednesday morning from their respective homes in Muganza and Bugarma sectors, according to police.

The Rusizi District Police Commander, Supt. Johnson Sesonga told The New Times that police recovered 12 sacks of fertilisers from the suspect’s shops.

"You know the government spends a lot of money buying these fertilisers. It is therefore wrong for traders to buy farmers’ fertilisers,” said Sesonga.

Speaking from the police station, Bizimana one of the suspects admitted to buying fertilisers but said they were willing to return them.

Supt. Sesonga disclosed that police has also recovered over 10 sacks of fertilisers which had been bought by Burundian nationals. He added that police would step up vigilance at the Rwanda-Burundi border to prevent smuggling of fertilisers to Burundi.

Security officials said they have put in place more measures to arrest farmers who sell their fertilisers to businessmen.

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