June 1, 2021
BY PROBLYN JOHN ALPHA (KONO)
A fourteen year old boy identified as Robert Kanneh has on the 21st May, 2021 drowned in a dug out mining pit around Congo Bridge, Koidu city – Kono district.
Amadu Barrie a resident of Congo bridge area in Koidu city told our reporter that in the early hours on the aforementioned date, the deceased begged him five thousand Leones whilst going for breakfast to a nearby tea shop and promised to give Robert the money when he should have returned home in the evening.
He noted that surprisingly upon his arrival at home he was told that Robert Kanneh has drowned in one of the dug our mining pits at the Congo bridge area.
Mr Barrie called on the Koidu New Sembehun City Council and other likeminded institutions to refill the said dug out mining pits in the above mentioned area which have claimed the lives of so many children.
Mr. Barrie urged stakeholders of the Congo bridge area to constitute strong bye-laws that will forbid children to swim in the said dug out mining pits as drowning is very common in that mining community.
Speaking to this medium, the biological uncle of the deceased Mr. Matturie who also doubles as the deceased care taker noted that none of the family members knew that Robert left the house for a swimming expedition with his friends noting that they were only told that Robert has drowned.
Meanwhile his remains are expected to be laid to rest in Koidu city after the necessary arrangements by the family members and the Sierra Leone police are finalised.