The youth have a role to play in fighting crime by being active ambassadors in anti drugs campaigns in their schools and communities. This was the message delivered by Rwanda National Police (RNP) to over 800 students of GS Akumunigo Secondary School in Nyarugenge District at a seminar last week. Inspector of Police Seraphine Nyirandikubwimana, from the Criminal Investigation Department, told the students about the dangers of consuming illicit brew and narcotics and also reminded them to be aware of those who lure young people, especially girls, with promises of expensive gifts. “Drug addicts, most especially the youth, are a deterrent to the development of our country. Instead of wasting your lives by consuming drugs and joining violent gangs, study hard and become the people who will lead Rwanda in future,” she said. You should be ambassadors of peace and lawfulness by sensitising your fellow youth and communities against consumption and trade of narcotics. Young girls and boys should also be wary of any individuals, whether relatives, friends or strangers, who lure them into human trafficking where they become sex slaves or labour slaves in other countries. The Director of GS Akumunigo, Ildebrande Nzabandora commended Police for extending the message to the school and also raised the need for the public and youth to work together with security organs in crime prevention. Be patriotic enough and ensure that you report anything that affects your community. Even if drugs or human trafficking do not affect you directly, report them as soon as you can to Police to ensure that they do not affect your fellow countrymen, she said. RNP reaches out to schools and the youth in general - and has trained over 600 members of the Rwanda Youth Volunteers in Crime Prevention Organisation (RYVCPO) on crime prevention. The organisation is composed of about 7, 000 members countrywide including students, who support vulnerable communities by giving them medical insurance, livestock and carryout crime prevention awareness programmes in schools and communities against drug abuse, corruption, gender and domestic violence, among others.
