{A motorcyclist, who caused commotion in the city centre after he was stopped for breaching road traffic rules, has apologized to Rwandans and Rwanda National Police in particular for the inappropriate behavior and its consequences.}
Valens Twagirayezu, on Wednesday at around midday, violated traffic rules after he rode in a prohibited one-way and through the Car-free zone.
As a traffic officer tried to stop him, Twagirayezu hit the pavement and fell down as he attempted to dodge the officer and speed-away to avoid being penalized.
While speaking to the press, Twagirayezu denied claims that he was either beaten by the officer or taken to the hospital.
“What happened is that I dropped a passenger in front of Simba Supermarket (Centenary House) and instead of riding through the right traffic direction, I rode through a one-way meant for traffic from the opposite direction, towards Car-free zone,” Twagirayezu said.
“When a police officer tried to stop me, I refused and in the course of attempting to speed away I knocked a pavement and fell down. In reality, he didn’t kick me like people are saying neither was I hurt when I fell down. I created a situation where a police officer would think that I was hurt so that he can pardon me for the traffic offence I had committed.”
“I am saying sorry to Rwandans and Police because my bad actions caused commotion, painted a bad image on the officer who stopped me and the entire police institution. The actions of my fellow motorcyclists were also inappropriate and unprofessional because they dramatized the whole thing, tried to stand in the way of the officers and spreading wrong information. To all I have wronged, I apologise and beg to be pardoned,” Twagirayezu narrated.
Twagirayezu is currently in Police custody together with another motorcyclist identified as Innocent Habanabashaka, who was also taken into custody for spreading rumours and attempting to obstruct police from exercising its duties as he chased a Police vehicle with a motorcycle in protest of the arrest of his colleague.
Celestin Ntaganzwa, the President of the federation of motorcycle cooperatives, also said that they received a phone call from a motorcyclist alleging that their colleague had been beaten by an officer “only to find the opposite.”
“We immediately went to the scene and actually found that the motorcyclist is the one who was in wrong and tried to dramatise the situation as if he was beaten. These are unprofessional practices we don’t entertain in the federation,” he said.
He appealed to all members to be defined by good conduct, abide by traffic rules and regulations and also report their defiant colleague who tarnish their image.
Commissioner of Police (CP) George Rumanzi, Commissioner for the Traffic and Road Safety Department warned against bad road usage and violation of road safety rules and standards.
As you have heard, Twagirayezu tried to create a scenario out of his unlawful actions causing commotion as onlookers came in big numbers. You will not violate the law and then go ahead to lie as a way of saying that you want justice because it will not work out. These behaviours are unacceptable and if you are caught you will be penalized accordingly,” CP Rumanzi said.
He said that police and motorcycle cooperatives work together both in road safety and community policing, calling such actions as “individual inappropriate behaviours which cannot be tolerated.”
He instead appealed to the public particularly road users including motorcyclists to be law abiding citizens and continue to cooperate with police to enforce road safety.
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