{{Police has launched a five-day awareness campaign against drug abuse in secondary schools in the country as the force continues the drive against the vice which is rated high among the youth.}}
Superintendent Sam Rumanzi, the Director of Community Policing in Rwanda National Police, said the move is aimed at enhancing the existing partnership with anti-crime clubs in secondary schools and to equip them with more skills and knowledge in the quest against the sell and consumption of narcotics and illicit brew.
“It is through such partnership that we have been able to seize big quantities of cannabis and illicit brew, and many dealers apprehended based on the information provided; it is imperative, therefore, to meet them, guide and remind them of their responsibilities as partners in crime prevention” said Supt. Rumanzi.
Drug abuse has been topping the crime list in the country in the past years, majority abusers being the youth.
2477 out of 3132 people arrested last year in connection with drug related crimes, are the youth between 18 and 35 years of age. 99 others were aged below 18 years.
Drugs such as cannabis and kanyanga are sneaked into the country from the neighbouring countries through illegal borders.
About 100 out of 504 schools with anti-crime clubs in the country will be visited in the course of the week.
Supt. Rumanzi explained that some of the schools to be visited were selected based on information of their vulnerability while others are those whose members were not sensitized during the previous campaigns.
The campaign in schools comes to supplement other initiatives such as the Community Policing Week, all aimed at combating crimes by engaging the general public, and specifically the youth, who are the most vulnerable.
Supt Rumanzi also disclosed that plans are underway to establish anti-crime clubs in all the 1466 secondary schools in the country.
“It is not simple to establish such clubs in all these school; it’s a gradual process, and that what we are aiming at now,” he explained.
He also disclosed that they are formulating a booklet that will guide and outline the duties of these clubs and how new members will take-over when their colleagues leave.
“The challenges we are facing now are the students, who dropped out of school, who are the most vulnerable and involve in criminal activities. But we are working with the ministries of Education Local Government to identify them, sensitize them and bring them on board against drug abuse,” he said.
Drug abuse is said to be the brain behind other crimes such as theft, domestic violence, rape and defilement.
RNP
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