By Ijoo Bosco
Torit County Caretaker Commissioner and Mayor Eddy William Ponsiano has directed all village communities to compile and submit the names of suspected criminals accused of committing crimes, including killings and cattle raiding.
Speaking during a meeting with more than 60 community leaders, including chiefs, women, youth, lawmakers’ representatives, and residents from Hiyala Payam and Torit town, Commissioner Eddy gave communities one week to submit the names to his office.
He urged residents to formally report suspected offenders to the police and follow up on their cases through the justice system, rather than resorting to revenge attacks.
Commissioner Eddy said failure to pursue cases after suspects are detained can lead to their release.
“Once you open a case against your suspected criminal and he or she is brought for detention, follow it up. If you don’t follow it up, the prosecutor will release him. Don’t blame the government afterwards,” Eddy said.
He said unresolved criminal cases and the practice of harbouring suspected offenders are among the factors fueling revenge attacks and killings in villages across Torit County.
The commissioner also announced plans for a peace conference in New Kenya, bringing together communities from Greater Hiyala and neighbouring areas.
The conference will be organised by Torit County authorities in collaboration with the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) Civil Affairs Division, with the aim of identifying and addressing the causes of persistent insecurity in Greater Hiyala Payam.
Commissioner Eddy further directed village chiefs, particularly in Greater Hiyala, to mobilise residents and youth to clear roads by cutting overgrown grass.
He said clearing roads would improve visibility, help communities detect suspicious movements, and allow vehicles and motorcycles to move freely.
The commissioner also warned that villages identified as having hosted or facilitated the movement of criminals could be required to bear government expenses incurred while security forces pursue suspects.
The meeting focused on measures to address persistent killings and insecurity in Greater Hiyala, as well as ways of dealing with communities or individuals accused of harbouring criminals.