{As the Police Week 2016 entered the fourth day on Tuesday, Rwanda National Police (RNP) says abuse of drugs is one of the contributors of child abuse, which calls for stringent measures.}
Police statistics indicate that between December 2015 and April 2016, about 1000kg of cannabis were seized and 604 people arrested in connection with either trafficking or abusing drugs, with 63 of them women.
During the same period, police also seized close to 4000 litres of locally made illicit brew and banned gin and arrested 554 people including 108 females over the crime.
At least 363 of those arrested with illicit drinks were the youth aged between 18 and 35 years.
Most drugs registered in Rwanda are cannabis and illicit brews locally known as muriture, bareteta, yewe muntu and ibikwangari, and banned gin like Kanyanga, chief and zebra waragi, among others, all which are said to be containing life threatening content.
According to RNP spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Celestin Twahirwa, several investigations in child abuse cases have linked suspects to have acted under the influence of drugs.
“Fighting drug abuse is one of the priorities of Rwanda National Police and ultimately combat abuses children face such as assault or corporal punishment, unwanted pregnancies which lead to abortion and defilement, among others,” said ACP Twahirwa.
Fighting drug abuse was the topic of discussion on the fourth day of the Police Week on Tuesday as police officers engaged especially students in various schools in the country on the dangers involved.
The youth are said to be the majority involved and victims of drug abuse.
“As part of our strategies in fighting them, we have since mapped major routes; in the Eastern Province, Kirehe has been marked as one of the major routes of cannabis while most of the banned gins like Kanyanga comes in through Nyagatare District,” said the RNP spokesperson.
On the other hand, Rubavu in the Western region is said to be the major route for traffickers through Mukamira-Ngororero Muhanga road and Rubavu-Musanze-Kigali roads.
Locally distilled brew and other illegal alcoholic substances are also said to be common in the districts of Ngororero, Rutsiro, Nyamasheke and Karongi.
“These mapped areas have given special attention, operations intensifies and with help of the public a considerable number of traffickers were arrested and police operational strategies will be further implemented” he emphasized.
“It is in this context that we dedicated the fourth day of the Police Week to fighting narcotic and illicit drugs and informing the public especially students about the effects of these substances to the community and how they contribute to child abuse,” he explained.
Meanwhile, police on Tuesday reached out to about 25, 000 students in 38 schools from 15 districts, where the anti-drug abuse campaign was conducted.
“In all the districts, officers and partners including local leaders dwelt on dangers of drug abuse, how it contributes to child abuse and neglect; children in families and environments where these vices exist have a higher probability of experiencing maltreatment. This is why we rolled out the campaign to ensure the message is widely heard and jointly fight the vice.”
“Statistics indicate that most drug abusers are youths; our campaigns are aimed at equipping youths with knowledge about the dangers of drug abuse so that they cannot fall prey of the vice but again, in line with the police week, such campaigns help in preventing cases of child abuse and drug abuse, identified where they are, reported, and culprits are prosected.”
He went on to say that child abuse manifests in various forms, including physical abuse, sexual abuse, neglect, and emotional or psychological abuse.
“The entire Rwandan community should come on board utilise the toll-free lines like 116 child helpline, as we win the war against drug abuse and child abuse; this is why we extended this campaign not only to students but to different communities.”
Meanwhile in Rutsiro, the mayor Emerance Ayinkamiye, while speaking to over 1700 students of GS Kongo Nil, College de la Paix and GS Murundi, urged them to break silence on the abuses they face.
“Normally, a child can developed psychological trauma especially when parents are acting rudely under the influence of drugs. Whenever you encounter such a situation, report to the police in the quickest time possible, said SP Kagenza.
The DPC of Rutsiro, Superintendent of Police (SP) Boniface Kagenza also said that drug abuse influence child abandonment.
Police Week 2016 is being marked under the theme; “Stand up for Child Protection”, with the main objective of showcasing the importance of partnerships in crime identification and prevention; enhance mechanisms for collaboration in service delivery and accountability and increase public awareness and responsibility to protect children.
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