Night patrols commence in Bentiu IDP camp following rise in murder cases

Community leaders in Bentiu internally displace people’s camp in Unity State have called for intensifying night patrols to prevent crime.  

Peter Gatkoy Tut, the representative of community leaders in the internally displaced persons camp said the move came after they reported three cases of murder, in addition to attacks on humanitarian staff.

  “We have recorded three cases of murder and three attacks on humanitarian workers that is why we came up to impose strong night patrolling from 8:00 PM to 5:00 AM,” Tut told Juba Echo in Bentiu camp on Wednesday.

 The joint patrols will be made up of community watch groups and police.

 A 38-year- old man was killed last week in what appeared to be revenge killing and his body was found after two days in water drainage in Bentiu IDP camp.

Tut said that the night patrols will also help reduce revenge attacks and robberies in the camp.

He urged communities residing in the camp to report suspected criminal activities to nearest police station.

“If we find out that you are hosting criminals and you are within Bentiu IDP camp, we will expel you out and your ration card will be terminated,” Tut said.

In February, the Bentiu IDP camp joint police commander James Tut Chuol promised to clamp down on criminals in the camp amid rumors that the very criminals usually don police and army uniforms making it difficult to track them.