Torit beefs up security with streetlights, CCTV cameras to combat crime

TORIT – Torit municipality is ramping up security measures in response to a rise in crime, with plans to install 70 streetlights and surveillance cameras across the town.

The initiative follows resident complaints and a directive from Governor Louis Lobong Lojore for the municipality to address the issue.

Speaking to Sudans Post yesterday, Mayor Mustafa Albino Zachariah identified nighttime attacks on motorbike riders, burglaries, and street thefts as prevalent crimes. He said the security cameras would assist police in monitoring criminal activity.

“We’re installing security cameras and streetlights right from the Juba checkpoint to the Kapoeta checkpoint and elsewhere in town to reduce darkness. Roughly 70 solar lights will be installed on the town’s streets,” said Mustafa.

The project aims to equip major highways and key areas within Torit with improved lighting and surveillance capabilities.

While acknowledging the limitations of the initial batch of lights, Mayor Zachariah emphasized their role as a stop-gap measure.

“These lights aren’t enough, but another company is supplying us with better ones,” he said. “We’ll prioritize high-crime areas and government buildings for the current installations. We’ll then remove and replace them with the new, stronger ones within 72 hours.”

He appealed to residents for cooperation in safeguarding the new infrastructure.

Mayor Zachariah highlighted the integrated security system, with CCTV cameras embedded within the streetlights.

These cameras are designed to record criminal activity and deter potential vandalism.

“The street lights have CCTV cameras that record criminal acts,” Zachariah explained. “They’ll also catch anyone trying to steal the lights or break into homes. They work together, not alone.”

The move comes amidst concerns over the effectiveness of similar security measures adopted in Juba. President Salva Kiir launched surveillance drones and 150 CCTV cameras in the capital city in 2017, but their impact on curbing crime rates has been modest.

Torit’s initiative reflects a growing trend within South Sudan, where local authorities are seeking innovative solutions to tackle rising crime rates.