Two young men arrested over deadly assault linked to illegal mining in Rutsiro

Rutsiro District, Rwanda — The Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB) has arrested two young men in connection with the death of a 19-year-old following a violent dispute over illegally mined minerals in Rutsiro District.

The suspects, Mugisha Fabien (19) and Nzabonimpa Jean d’Amour (20), are being held at the Gihango RIB station. They are accused of assaulting Habimana (19), a relative and neighbor, who later succumbed to his injuries.

According to information obtained by Imvaho Nshya, the three youths had jointly engaged in illegal mining activities in an area where mineral extraction is prohibited. After extracting the minerals, they allegedly washed them in the Ntaruko River and hid them in a nearby state-owned forest while they went in search of buyers.

Sources indicate that during the search for buyers, Habimana is believed to have returned secretly, retrieved the hidden minerals, and attempted to sell them on his own. When the two suspects later returned to the hiding place and discovered the minerals missing, they reportedly suspected Habimana and began searching for him.

The three young men, who all lived in Kiriba Village, Kagano Cell, Mukura Sector, are said to be related. Upon finding Habimana, the suspects allegedly attacked him.

They beat him at around 10 a.m., but residents intervened and stopped the fight. After that, everyone went home,” a source told Imvaho Nshya.

Tragically, Habimana was found dead later that night.“He went home and lay down. His parents returned around 11 p.m. and knocked on his door, but there was no response. When they opened it, they found him motionless and realized he had died,” the source added.

Authorities were immediately notified. Neighbors, local leaders, and RIB officers arrived at the scene, and the body was taken for a post-mortem examination. The two suspects were later arrested as investigations began.

A resident of the area expressed concern about the increasing involvement of young people in dangerous and illegal activities, particularly as the festive season approaches.“As the end-of-year holidays draw near, many youths look for quick money to finance Christmas and New Year celebrations,” the resident said. “Some turn to illegal mining, where accidents occur, and in other cases, violence breaks out, as we have seen here.”

The resident called on authorities to strengthen security around abandoned and prohibited mining sites to prevent further incidents.

The Executive Secretary of Mukura Sector, Emmanuel Ndayambaje, confirmed both the incident and the arrests.

“The suspects were arrested and are being held at the Gihango RIB station. Ongoing investigations and the medical examination will establish the exact cause of death,” he said. “Although residents intervened during the assault, the victim later died at home, and those involved in the fight remain the primary suspects.”

Ndayambaje urged residents to avoid violence and acts of retaliation, emphasizing the serious consequences of taking the law into one’s own hands.“Anyone facing a dispute should seek assistance from local authorities or trusted mediators,” he said.

He added that local authorities have reinforced measures to curb violence, excessive alcohol consumption, theft, and other security threats during the Christmas and New Year period, to ensure that residents celebrate the holidays in safety and peace.