Alwaght- Police in the tiny African state of Rwanda have arrested several people suspected of being affiliated to the ISIS Takfiri group, less than a week after the police killed a preacher accused of encouraging youths to join the notorious group.
On Monday, police detained Muhammad Mugemangango, the deputy imam at Kigali's Kimironko Mosque, and accused him of recruiting for the ISIS terrrorist. Mugemangango was shot and killed while attempting to escape, police said.
In a news conference Saturday, police said that evidence obtained after Mugemangango's detention had led them to identify several other suspects. The group's aim had been to recruit new ISIS members, the police said.
While addressing journalists, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Theos Badege, Commissioner for Criminal Investigation Department (CID), said interrogations conducted revealed that Munyengango had a connection with a terrorist network operating in the East Africa region.
“The evidence obtained after the arrest of Munyengango led to the identification and arrest of several other suspects in connection with the terror network,” said Badege, adding that evidence gathered include mobilization and extremist teaching materials such as books, CDs and social network messages.
“Available information revealed that some of the suspects are beyond the country’s borders,” Badege added.
According to Police Munyengango and terrorists groups” immediate aim was mobilization, recruitment and facilitating those radicalized to join ISIS other than attacks on Rwanda.
ISIS terrorist group is said to be on a massive recruitment exercise for people from Africa, according to intelligence from the African Union.
This revelation was made in Augusts last year by the commissioner for peace and security in the African Union, Ambassador Smail Chergui, at the opening of the 2nd meeting of the heads of intelligence and security services of Eastern Africa.
Chergui further added that some of the most active recruitment is being done in the East African region.