As part of Rwanda National Police’s ongoing anti-crime drive, the force reached out to over 3100 students in different schools and tutored them about the dangers of drug abuse and their role in fighting the vice.
In three separate awareness campaigns held in various schools in Ngoma, Ruhango and Nyamagabe districts, students were enlightened on different types of narcotics and illicit brew, their effects on an individual and the community, and their role in fight them.
In Ngoma, the mayor and the District Police Commander engaged students of Zaza TTC, Kibingo, Mayange and Sumba secondary schools as part of the prevention campaign.
Mayor Aphrodice Nambaje reminded the students to be policing agents either at school or in their communities by reporting drug dealers and users to police.
By reporting their fellow youth students, who are drug addicts, Nambaje said, they will be equally helping them to be rehabilitated.
“You are the police as well; when you say no to any illegal dealing or report anything unlawful, you are promoting safety, security and stability and that way, you are equally playing a policing role and building your nation as required,” Nambaje said.
“Youth are the future of our nation and our country’s development will depend on how healthy you are.”
He lauded Rwanda National Police for its awareness programmes and partnership, which builds trust with the people, and subsequently getting positive feedback.
Senior Superintendent (SSP) Janvier Mutaganda also reminded the students that drug abuse among the youth is one of the factors that attribute to school drop-outs, while it partly threatens their security.
“Drug abuse has an effect on someone’s state of mind. Anyone who consumes such substances can’t perform well in class or even succeed in life. You should ensure you protect your future,” said SSP Mutaganda
“Some students perform poorly in schools because they engage in drug abuse and consume illicit brew. This also results into violence because they are under influence of these drugs; they engage in theft, assault, fornication which results into unwanted pregnancies and dropping out of school,” SSP Mutaganda said.
The same message was also echoed in other schools in district where the youth were also taken through laws that punish drug dealers and abusers.
Making, distributing, consuming and trafficking illicit drugs and psychotropic substances is punishable under articles 593 to 598 of the penal code.
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