Rwanda National Police in Kigali City, in collaboration with Professional Community Guards (Irondo), spent five days closely monitoring a drainage system where a young man fled after snatching a woman’s handbag containing money and a phone. The incident occurred in Nyamirambo, near the St. Charles Lwanga Catholic Church.
The suspect was with an accomplice who had also stolen a mobile phone. The accomplice emerged on the third day, overcome by thirst and hunger, and was immediately arrested after coming out to beg for water.
Both individuals are accused of snatching items from pedestrians, specifically targeting women and girls, before fleeing into a large drainage canal in Mumena Cell. This canal serves as the primary rainwater runoff for Nyamirambo’s roads.
Residents who spoke to the media, including BTN TV, noted that the drainage system likely has multiple known and unknown entry points.
One witness stated, “The information we have is that the [first] thief came out at 2:00 AM on the third day. He emerged dying of thirst and asking for water to drink.”
A motorcycle taxi driver reported witnessing one of the suspects snatching a bag from a woman heading to work. They struggled over the bag, but the young man overpowered her. Though the woman managed to grab his leg, the suspect kicked her off and fled into the drainage system.
“It was around 8:00 AM,” the driver said. “We saw them fighting over the bag and initially thought they were siblings. Then we saw the young man break free. When the woman pulled his leg, he kicked her and escaped. He even insulted another motorcyclist who tried to intervene.”
Gisele Irakoze, 24, told The New Times: “They snatch people’s bags and phones and then hide in this culvert. You cannot follow them inside because you could lose your life in there.”
Irakoze added, “My phone was stolen here last year. We believe that if the Police continue to monitor this area, they will no longer hide here. We are very grateful to our Police.”
Daniel Kabera, another resident familiar with the area, noted, “We often face problems in this spot, especially at night. We ask the relevant authorities to take further action.”
On Monday morning, the Police Spokesperson for the City of Kigali, CIP Wellars Gahonzire, initially stated they were still waiting for the second suspect to emerge. A few hours later, the Police confirmed that the second young man had also come out of the drainage system.
“These theft suspects fled into the drainage system, so the Police decided to guard the exit points and wait. One of the two was apprehended on the third day, and we waited for the other. We chose to wait to avoid using unnecessary force,” Gahonzire stated.
The Spokesperson added that one suspect is accused of snatching a Google Pixel phone, while the second suspect, identified as Felix, is accused of snatching a woman’s small bag containing a Tecno phone and cash.
