GAKENKE - The Police at Gakenke district are holding ten men who have been stealing electronic equipment from universities and individuals.

The police made the arrest after they were tipped off by one of the 10, Nirere Emmanuel, Alias Florida, a former guard at School of Finance and Banking in Kigali (SFB).

The police commander of Gankenke police station, Rutayisire Félix, said that the men stole several equipment from the National University of Rwanda (UNR) in Butare, and at SFB.

"The equipment stolen was valued at Frw11 million,” Rutayisire said, adding that the police recovered automatic rifles and a grenade.

The Grenade was found with one Bakame, a former FDLR infiltrator, who was also planning of killing a business man identified as Twahirwa of Gakenke district.

Bakame said that he was in the FDLR for long and later abandoned it. He added that he had kept the grenade for security purpose because his former comrades in the FDLR wanted to kill him.

Four of the arrested took part in the robberies while the rest disposed of the loot. Nirere was arrested when he attempted to rob business women known as Jacqueline Kankindi, who had sold a piece of land.

In the attempted robbery, the suspect slashed Kankindi and left her for dead.. Neighbours and a security patrol (irondo) ran to her rescue and arrested Nirere who gave out the names of his accomplices.

"I used to steal with the help of someone who had continued to be a security guard at SFB, I could sell the stolen property and we would share the money” Nirere said.

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