The generators were recovered on Sunday, August 9, from three prime suspects, who were also arrested in Fumbwe Sector, Rwamagana District.

Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Hamdun Twizeyimana, the Police spokesperson of the Eastern region, identified the suspects as John Dukuzimana, 25, Jean Bosco Rwigamba, 21, and Santos Murazimana, 26.

CIP Twizeyimana said that the trio was intercepted in Lake Muhazi as they crossed from Gatsibo to Nyarubuye in Fumbwe Sector.

"On Sunday, at about 3pm, local security personnel saw three men as they crossed to Rwamagana from Gatsibo, through Lake Muhazi with three power generators in a boat, and called the Police out of suspicion that the generators could be stolen," CIP Twizeyimana said.

"During interrogation, one of the suspects, John Dukuzimana, disclosed that they stole the generators from a mining company in Gatsibo where Dukuzimana was working as a cleaner," he added.

Dukuzimana was the brain behind the theft.

Indeed, when the Police in Rwamagana District called the mining company, they confirmed that their three power generators had been stolen.

The suspects were handed over to Rwanda Investigation Bureau in Murambi where the crime was committed.

The mining company thanked the Police for recovering the power generators, noting that theft had affected their operations.

CIP Twizeyimana lauded the impact of community policing groups including Irondo local security personnel and the general public in fighting and preventing crimes through information sharing on suspects and recovery of stolen items.

Theft, under article 166 of the law determining offences and penalties in Rwanda, attracts an imprisonment of one to two years and a fine of between Rwf1 million and Rwf2 million, a community service of six months or one of these penalties.