Police Hails Public Partnership in Campaign Against illicit Firearms

{{The public have played a crucial role in the recovery of illicit firearms and explosives, Rwanda National Police said.}}

The force said following awareness campaigns held in all parts of the country to voluntarily surrender and provide information on the whereabouts of such dangerous weapons, there has been “huge response and subsequent recovery.”

Police said some of the weapons recovered were found in bush, gardens and sometimes recovered while digging toilets.
On Friday, a stick grenade was recovered in Rutsiro District and another in Burera District by people who were digging toilets while other two were reported by people who found them in their gardens as they were cultivating.

Superintendant Vita Hamza, the Western Region Police Spokesperson, said the issue of illicit firearms in no longer a threat, but appealed to the public to “maintain the spirit” to further create an environment that facilitates development.

The National Action Plan on the fight against Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) was launched in late 2011 following its approval by the cabinet in 2009.
About 100, 000 illicit firearms and 52 tons of explosives have been destroyed in Rwanda since 2005.

Under article 671 of the penal code, any person who illegally possesses, lends or gives an arm, or falsifies its identification marks, shall be liable to a term of imprisonment of six months to one year and a fine of Rwf300, 000 Rwf3 million or one of these penalties.

“The public are our major partners in crime prevention. We urge them to continue the spirit to provide information of the whereabouts of such dangerous weapons and for those that have them to surrender them voluntarily,” Supt. Hamza said.

He also appealed to the public to provide information of other things that might threaten their security like drugs, which he said fuel other crimes like domestic and sexual violence and theft.

“We [police] have been conducting awareness campaigns against crimes; next week, we will yet again conduct same campaigns in a “Police Week” and we urge everyone to take part to achieve sustainable security in our country.”

{RNP}