POLICE IN MUSANZE District have handed thirteen people over to the prosecution to face charges of illegal possession of firearms and plans to cause insecurity in the country. Superintendent Emmanuel Hitayezu, the Northern Province’s Regional Police Spokesperson said the suspects (names withheld) were arrested separately early last month. He said that the police seized 8 submachine guns (SMG) which they handed to prosecution on Friday. The suspects, all males, include former members of DR Congo-based militia, FDLR and some farmers. They were arrested following a tip-off from a resident who told police about a resident who owned bullets but investigations further found out that the suspect also had a firearm. “We carried out investigations and the suspect led us to other suspects whom we found with eight SMGs in Muhoza Sector. The suspects are linked to the FDLR and we handed them to the prosecution,” Hitayezu said. The officer added that investigations were ongoing to find out whether there are others still at large. He said that investigations found out that the suspects transported the guns in trucks carrying Irish potatoes before taking them to Muhoza. Hitayezu assured the residents of their security and urged them to improvr their communication through timely delivery of information. Earlier last week the Minister of Local Government, James Musoni, and the Inspector General of Police, Emmanuel Gasana, visited Musanze and Burera and urged residents to be vigilant and avoid dealing with FDLR and other subversive groups. Six local officials in the district, including two sector executive secretaries, two cell officials, and a district lands officer, were reportedly arrested over involvement in subversive activities earlier last month. Fifteen people, including three women, accused of being behind a spate of grenade attacks in Musanze District and having links with FDLR were also arrested and handed over to prosecution in March and are currently on trial.
