Two Burundian fugitives identified as Arcade Niyonzima, 28, and Asuman Bukuru, 38, who had sought a safe haven in Rwanda, were Tuesday extradited back to their country.

Bukuru, a resident of Bujumbura, was arrested for forging a passport, whereas Niyonzima is wanted in Burundi for stealing a motorcycle.

Emmanuel Sinzinkayo, the owner of the stolen motorcycle, on realizing that the suspect was on Rwandan soil, tipped Burundian police to follow up the matter. The latter informed their Rwandan counterparts to trail and arrest the suspects.

Upon arrest in Kigali, the duo was handed over to Burundian Police by Chief Supt. Tony Kuramba, the head of Interpol-Rwanda at the police headquarters in Kacyiru.
Kuramba underscored that cross-border crimes are common everywhere in the world.

"Some people commit crimes in their homelands and decide to flee to neighbouring countries. Police in the region have put hands together to fight cross-border crimes, since it cannot be effectively handled by a single country,” Kuramba said.

Last year, police also managed to recover nine vehicles stolen from neighbouring countries and effectively handed back.

"This was possible because the network of regional Interpol is alert on a daily basis to curb cross-border wrongdoers,” Kuramba said.

He called on citizens to work closely with security organs by acting as whistle blowers and sharing information about criminals in their communities, "so that the country and region may enjoy a crime-free environment.”

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