Police in Kayonza district has arrested five suspects in connection with poaching in Akagera national park.
Jean Claude Nsengimana 33, Jean Bosco Nduwamungu 22, Samuel Shyaka 27, Jean de Dieu Kalisa 28 and Silvan Mutabaruka 47 were arrested in Kageyo cell in Mwiri sector as they returned from their illegal hunting in Akagera national park.
They are currently held at Rukara police station. Four of the suspects hail from Murama sector while the other one hails from Kabare sector.
“We had information of these men’s illegal acts from Community Policing Committees in the area. We, therefore, mounted an operation with local authorities, which led to their apprehension,” Supt. Steven Gaga, the District Police Commander said.
“They had already killed two buffalos that day and we arrested them with about 100 kilogrammes of buffalo meat,” he added.
According to Supt. Gaga, poachers clandestinely enter the park, kill wild animals and smoke their meat before selling it to area residents.
“We have had such cases of poachers, but one has to commend the work done by CPCs and people living next to this park, because they have been vital in providing us with credible information of people involved in this illegal activity and majority have been apprehended,” he reiterated.
The arrest of these suspects follows other operations conducted in January and February, also in Kayonza which led to the arrest of 15 other suspected poachers.
Hunting in national park also called poaching, is illegal under the article 417 of the new penal code.
It stipulates that “any person who poaches, sells, injures or kills a gorilla or any other protected endangered animal species shall be liable to a term of imprisonment of more than five to ten years and a fine of Frw500, 000 to Frw5 million.”
RNP
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