Three men arrested for murdering motorcyclist

RULINDO - Police in Rulindo District last Friday arrested three men who allegedly killed a motorcyclist.Onesphore Ntibiringirwa, 35, of Cyinzuzi Sector, was murdered two weeks ago and his body dumped in a pit latrine.

Monday, September 28, 2009
The three murder suspects arrive aboard a pickup at the burial ceremony of the deceased last Saturday. (photo/ A.Gahene)

RULINDO - Police in Rulindo District last Friday arrested three men who allegedly killed a motorcyclist.
Onesphore Ntibiringirwa, 35, of Cyinzuzi Sector, was murdered two weeks ago and his body dumped in a pit latrine.

His death was suspected after residents recovered his motorcycle abandoned on the roadside in Jabana Sector, neighboring Gasabo District, according to sources.

"Thereafter a search for Ntibiringirwa’s whereabouts was mounted in the entire district,” police said. 

According to police, one of the suspects provided the leads that led to the recovery of the body, last Saturday.

The suspects were driven to the burial ground for the deceased amidst tight security where they were  paraded before residents.

They were identified as Noel Nizeyimana; alias Mvenga, 32, Emmanuel Habumugisha, 34 and Alex Nkiranuye 29, all residents of Cyinzuzi Sector.

"Emmanuel Habumugsha was seen by residents on the fateful night. He was subsequently arrested and later helped the police to recover the body and apprehend other suspects,” police said, adding that a fourth suspect, whose names were not readily available, is still on the run.

At the burial, one of the suspects Nizeyimana, also a motorcyclist in the area admitted that they were responsible for the murder.

He said their motive was to rob the deceased’s motorcycle. 

"I personally called Ntibiringirwa on a mobile phone to come and pick passengers on the road near Murambi market.  Upon his arrival on a motorcycle, all of us pounced on him and strangled him using a rope,” he recounted.

"We later dumped his body in an old pit latrine behind my house…I beg for mercy from all of you present at this burial ceremony as we committed this horrendous crime under Satan’s influence,” he added, amidst sobbing and screaming.  

Addressing the mourners, the Mayor Justus Kangwagye, criticized the incident. Kangwagye praised residents for cooperating with the police during investigations to apprehend the murder suspects.

"These murder acts were inherited from past bad regimes which tolerated impunity.

The present government  is committed to fight all forms of crime in the Rwandan society, to guarantee rule of law,” he said.

Ends