Three people have been arrested in Nyabihu District in a crackdown on individuals and groups involved in vandalizing and stealing electricity cables connecting households in the area.
Jean Bosco Nshimiyimana, Patrick Bagaragaza and Emmanuel Uwayisaba were apprehended on April 27 after they were found with over 80 meters of the electric cables, apparently which are part of those connecting community households.
The cables were recovered from the house of Nshimiyimana located in Rega Cell of Bigogwe Sector.
The vandalized and stolen wires had been bought out of financial contribution by community households.
Preliminary investigations indicate that Nshimiyimana and Bagaragaza allegedly cut electric poles connecting some households in Bigogwe before stealing the cables.
This criminal act committed on Sunday night left a number of households without power, according to
Inspector of Police (IP) Theobard Kanamugire, Police spokesperson for the Western region, IP Kanamugire explained that the third suspect, Uwayisaba, although investigations are yet to connect him to the Sunday night criminal act, he is facing similar but separate charges including theft of cables from three houses in the area.
“We have already identified and handed over the recovered cables to owners, but investigations are still underway to recover others and arrest all those connected to these acts of vandalizing and stealing public infrastructures,” IP Kanamugire said.
He further warned against such acts and called for tight night patrols and full participation of communities to fight and prevent criminal and illegal activities and bring to justice those involved.
One of the victims, Faustin Mutabazi thanked Rwanda National Police for the quick response to recover their cables and arrest suspects.
Under article 406 of the penal code, any person who willfully destroys or damages in any way, in all or a part, buildings, bridges, dams, water pipes, water pipe routes, roads, railways or any other means of communication or electric power infrastructure, wells or any other buildings which do not belong to him/her, shall be liable to a term of imprisonment of two to five years and a fine of twice to ten times the value of the damaged property.
Leave a Reply