Rwanda National Police (RNP) has warned the public against stealing from vehicles involved in road accidents after 10 people were arrested for allegedly looting cement from a truck that crashed in Kigali.

The suspects were arrested following an accident involving a SINO TRUCK carrying 700 cement bags from Northern Province to Kigali in the early hours of May 28.

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The truck reportedly veered off the road in Nzove Cell, Kanyinya Sector, Nyarugenge District, after the driver failed to negotiate a bend. He sustained serious injuries and was taken to the University Teaching Hospital of Kigali (CHUK) for treatment.

Instead of helping the injured driver, some residents who gathered at the scene allegedly stole cement bags from the truck and began selling them, according to police.

Police spokesperson in the City of Kigali CIP Wellars Gahonzire told The New Times that officers responded immediately after receiving reports of the accident and launched an operation to recover the stolen cement bags and apprehend those responsible.

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"So far, 84 cement bags have been recovered, and 10 suspects have been arrested. They are being held at Kanyinya Police Station pending further investigations," Gahonzire said.

The police spokesperson in the City of Kigali condemned the practice of looting at accident scenes, saying it undermines efforts to assist victims and constitutes a criminal offence.

"Some people reached the scene and, instead of helping the injured driver, engaged in theft. Such actions are neither humane nor lawful," he said.

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Gahonzire urged citizens to uphold Rwanda’s culture of helping people in distress and to prioritise rescuing accident victims rather than exploiting emergencies for personal gain.