Dr Benjamin MANIRAKIZA , a 41-year-old university lecturer was arrested by Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB) on January 19, 2026, for allegedly defiling minors from secondary schools and related crimes.
He is accused of soliciting sex for profit and conspiring to commit a crime.
The lecturer allegedly lured minors with money, including students he previously defiled, and asked them to bring young girls. Those arrested include a student he defiled and asked to bring girls, a bar worker from Nyamirambo he had sex with and asked to bring girls, and a massage therapist he had sex with and asked to find him girls.
The three are accused of conspiring to commit a crime and soliciting sex for profit. They’re detained at RIB Station Rwezamenyo, with their case file sent to prosecution on January 16, 2026.
Reports indicate the lecturer paid secondary school girls to have sex with him. Those arrested allegedly had sex with him and were paid between 5,000 Frw and 20,000 Frw each time they brought him a girl.
The law (No. 68/2018) states that defiling a child is a crime, punishable by 20-25 years imprisonment if convicted. Another law (2018) on human trafficking states that offenders face 2-3 years imprisonment and a fine of 3-5 million Frw.
RIB spokesperson Dr. Murangira B. Thierry warned that such behavior won’t be tolerated, saying it’s shocking for an educated person like a lecturer to engage in such crimes. He urged people to be vigilant, as RIB will prosecute those involved.
