August 16, 2021
By Ilyasa Baa
One year eight months old Mohamed Bangura has drowned in a water well on at the Fire Mambo community back of Red Cross in Waterloo.
Community members revealed to A-Z newspapers that the boy was playing with his father, Idrissa Bangura of the same address while his mother had gone to market to buy food items for cooking. The revelation went on that the victim vanished from the site of his father only to be found in a well.
According to Mariama Sesay, she was at the well to wash her “plasas” (leaves) when she discovered the boy’s body down the well. She raised alarm immediately and the body was removed from the well but by then it was too late as the boy had already passed away.
The matter is under investigation and the Waterloo Police Station Media Officer Inspector Mohamed Kargbo could not confirm whether arrests were made but reiterated that action is going to be taken against those people who are in the habit of leaving their water well uncovered. He said through the Community Relations Department, the Waterloo Police Station had sensitized and raised alarm over the manner at which people abandon pits leaving them uncovered.
Abdulai Conteh, a community member said this is not the first time someone has drowned in a well of abandoned pits in the Waterloo village. He said the sensitization by the police is not sufficient adding that arrests should be made so that those in the habit of abandoning pits would be brought to book accordingly.
Mamusu Kargbo said parents and guardians should help the police by looking after their children at all times. She called on those with wells in the community to ensure covers are placed on them to prevent child drowning.
Postmortem is going to be performed on the boy to ascertain the cause of death before been buried.