The shocking video spread like wildfire on social media because it was rare to capture a violent mugging on camera, in broad daylight and in one of the safest capitals. A man in an alley is seen approaching a mobile money agent clad in her yellow MTN vest. He goes past the woman then suddenly strangles her from behind. His accomplice joins in and begins rifling through the agent’s pockets who is now helpless in the grip of a muscled young light-skinned man. What followed is what shocked many, after getting what he wanted, the second man started pounding the woman mercilessly. The unnecessary violence meted on the woman was what shocked and angered many. It was not long before Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB) and the police announced the beginning of a manhunt and the next day the case ended violently as it had begun: One of the thugs was shot dead by the police as he resisted arrest and the other was paraded before the press. The swift response by both RIB and the police was expected because the light-skinned man was very visible in the video and it was just a matter of time before someone identified him because the manhunt was taken to social media. People would not just standby as our streets are taken over by thugs as seen in many African capitals, they vigorously joined the hunt. Once again social media has shown to be an effective and powerful tool when put to good use and our security organs have realized it. They know they have been put under scrutiny to see how they perform, and they did not disappoint the public. Thumbs up.
