[PHOTOS]: Motorcyclist violates traffic rules, causes commotion in town

Police in Kigali have arrested Valens Twagirayezu, a taxi-moto operator who rode in the wrong direction on a one-way street in the Central Business District, disobeyed orders to stop and instead accelerated before he hit the pavement and fell off. Police said following the fall, Twagirayezu feigned death, attracting hundreds of fellow motorcyclists who tried to cause commotion at the scene. Head of traffic police unity, Commissioner of Police George Rumanzi speaks to the media yesterday at the Police headquarters in Kacyiru, Kigali. Briefing journalists shortly after incident yesterday, CP George Rumanzi, the Commissioner for traffic and road safety, dismissed earlier reports that the motorcyclist was wounded by a police officer, thus prompting a protest by several motorcyclists. “The incident caused chaos though there was no riot as many speculated. Many people came to see what had happened and this caused disorder. Nothing more than that,” he said. Rumanzi said investigations are underway to track ringleaders who took advantage of the incident to cause the disorder. Motorcyclist Valens Hitayezu speaks to the media at the Police headquarters yesterday. “There are taxi-moto operators who followed the police car that transported their colleague to hospital, hooting. We will investigate and hold them to account,” he said. The motorcyclist in question, Twagirayezu, attended the briefing after he was declared safe and sound by medics. He admitted that he was the troublemaker and denounced the behaviour of his colleagues. “I apologise for my actions. Nobody should repeat anything of the kind,” Police later said it had put Twagirayezu and another motorcyclist, identified, as Innocent Habanabashaka, for allegedly spreading rumours and attempting to obstruct police from exercising its duties, in custody. Head of motorcyclists associations, Celestin Ntaganzwa speaks to the media. (All photos by Faustin Niyigena) Celestin Ntaganzwa, the head of the motorcyclist association FERWACOTAMO, said taxi-moto operators claimed that police had killed their colleague. “At around 12pm, we received many calls with contradictory messages from taxi-moto operators. While some claimed that our colleague had been wounded, others said he was dead. We went to the police only to find him conscious and strong,” he said. Motorcyclists gather at the scene of incident. (Courtesy) He called upon taxi-moto operators to steer clear of misconduct. “We are currently training 129 motocyclists, sensitising them on traffic regulations and telling them to treat Police as partners not enemies,” he said. editorial@newtimes.co.rw

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[PHOTOS]: Motorcyclist violates traffic rules, causes commotion in town