Rwanda National Police successfully rescued a young Rwandan senior six student, who had been trafficked to Zambia on October 18, 2014 through Uganda and Tanzania. Working closely with the Zambia, Uganda and Tanzania Police forces, and International Police (Interpol), investigations were carried out until she was successfully rescued and returned to the loving arms of her family.
“She was flown safely back to her motherland and in healthy condition. This is laudable and we would like to thank the close cooperation we received from Police forces in EAPCCO (Eastern Africa Police Chiefs Cooperation Organisation) in the entire rescue process,” ACP Tony Kuramba, Commissioner for Interpol in RNP, said.
“Through the close cooperation of Ministries of Gender and Family Promotion, Internal Security and Foreign Affairs, the matter was taken to the highest level in order to rescue and save the Rwandan citizen. This is an indicator of the commitment and level of mobilization with which we take the lives of Rwandans seriously,” he added.
ACP Kuramba said that the community has a role in fighting Gender Based Violence and human trafficking by always providing timely information to Police whenever there is suspicion.
“Children should abide by the good advice they get from their parents and guardians so that they can avoid human traffickers who tempt them with lies of good job opportunities abroad – and instead, end up being sold into sex slavery and hard labour,” he said.
On arrival at Kanombe Airport today, the young victim was overwhelmed when she was received by her family.
She narrated that her kidnapper met her in a taxi while she was on her way to home, and lured into accepting a good job offer in Zambia, after which, they exchanged contacts and kept in touch constantly
“He paid all expenses which included a passport, transport fare, feeding and accommodation. He gave me another simcard on which we communicated and discouraged me from telling my parents about the whole mission,” she said.
The suspect then transported her to Uganda, then to Tanzania, but she got suspicious and found a way to contact her parents back home, who immediately informed Rwanda National Police.
On reaching the Zambian border, he told her that he was not going to get her a job but rather, that he wanted to marry her.
“I regretted this and if I knew his intention, I would not have engaged in this risky venture. When I told him that I was not ready for marriage, he threatened me and told me that I owed him all the money he had spent on me for the journey,” she said.
She then was forcefully transported to Lusaka through a bus terminal – but Interpol was already investigating every development. Police later rescued her but the suspect eluded arrest and is still at large.
“Investigations are ongoing with all concerned authorities and we will not rest until we bring the suspect to justice,” ACP Kuramba said.
Today, the Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion kick started a positive Parenting campaign in Gatsibo District, Eastern Province, which is geared towards addressing gender based violence and human trafficking.
“In most cases, victims of human trafficking are taken for forced marriage, prostitution and forced labour, and the destinations are usually China, Malaysia, Thailand and Dubai.”
Over 150 cases of human trafficking were registered in Rwanda since 2009, 90 percent of them females and 82 percent of them between ages of 18 and 35.
In recent years, Interpol Kigali intercepted 12 Ugandan girls that were being trafficked to Dubai, as well as four Rwandan boys.
The challenge of human trafficking is taken seriously at the highest office in the country, where recently, the First Lady, Jeannette Kagame, campaigned for Rwandans to stand up together against threats of human trafficking, gender based violence, drug abuse and alcohol consumption, which pose danger to the youth.
Human trafficking is punishable by a sentence of between six months and 15 years and a fine ranging from Rwf500,000 to Rwf20 million depending on how the crime was committed.
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