IGP Gasana warns against terrorism

Terrorism and radicalization or any other attempt to destroy Rwanda’s hard-earned security will not be tolerated, Inspector General of Police Emmanuel Gasana has said. Gasana was speaking on Saturday to over 3,000 taxi moto taxi operators at Amahoro indoor stadium during a security meeting between Rwanda National Police (RNP), City of Kigali officials and moto taxi cyclists after the monthly community service Umuganda in Nyandungu, Gasabo District. “It required a lot force to fight and stop the genocide against the Tutsi [in 1994] and a lot of force was used to fight and completely defeat [the subsequent] ‘Abacengezi’ waged war. Now we are in a war for development for Rwanda. We do not need anything else. Anyone who wants to bring another war, or bring problems such as terrorism, that can be a serious issue. We have therefore to work together to prevent this,’ he noted. IGP Emmanuel. K. Gasana speaking to motorcyclists operating in the City of Kigali. / Nadege Imbabazi. He noted that security is important and that is why the country is registering development, but, pointed out that security requires partnership. “Security is a very strong pillar in our country. If there is no security, you cannot do business. In countries where there is no security, people die and sorrow sets in, property gets destroyed. Therefore, Rwanda has reached a point where we take security seriously,” he said. “You have heard of devastating terrorism and radicalization all over the world. Those practices are so bad that if we do not tackle them, they can hold us back. But what I believe is that no one can accept it. Anyone who joins that path of terrorism succumbs or can succumb in it. Once it gets clear that you are in that plot, you succumb,” he warned. “You are still young, [and] are in cooperatives. We should partner so that we prevent crimes, prevent anyone who seeks to manipulate this Rwanda or anyone from joining that circuit,” he noted. Motorcyclists follow proceedings during the meeting after Umuganda. / Nadege Imbabazi. He also said drugs among the youth should be prevented because it affects their lives. Human trafficking also is a very bad act mainly against girls and needs attention. He said that burglary and robbery in Kigali where thieves grab [women’s] handbags, steal television sets among other property,should be prevented. Another issue of concern, he noted, is smuggling of substances such as marijuana (cannabis). “You should do your work properly to make the most of it and partner with security including police and RDF (Rwanda Defense Force) so that no one destroys our country,” he noted adding that anyone who engages in such will face consequences. “You should embrace patriotic values, our values, Rwandanness, our pride, and understand that whatever you do is important to you,” he said. On August 19, police shot dead three suspected terrorists in a targeted Police operation in Bugarama Sector of Rusizi District, after they turned violent resisting arrest by Police according to a police statement. The president of Rwanda Federation of Taxi Motor Operators (FERWACOTAMO), Celestin Ntaganzwa said: “if motorists have a role in providing information about the passengers they carry including the destination of those passengers, it can help security organs a lot because motorcyclists take passengers from bars and various places where there are many things going on, which they should report. FERWACOTAMO counts 25,000 taxi moto operators in the country, of whom about 13,500 are from the City of Kigali. editorial@newtimes.co.rw

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IGP Gasana warns against terrorism