BY PROBLYN J ALPHA
In two separate incidents that have rocked communities in Sierra Leone, the loss of young lives has left families and friends in mourning, prompting questions about safety measures and the circumstances surrounding their deaths.
Abdul Mattia, a final year student at Njala University, met a tragic fate after drowning in the River Moa at Bailu in the Kailahun District. Sources close to the family revealed that Mattia was carrying out his internship at the Kailahun Government Hospital when the incident occurred. Despite efforts to rescue him, his lifeless body was recovered from the river, where, according to tradition, he was laid to rest by its banks.
Similarly, Mohamed Nyandamoh, a sixteen-year-old SSS1 pupil of Islamic Secondary School in Koidu City, lost his life after drowning in the Muinday River in Gbense Chiefdom, Kono District. Reports suggest that Nyandamoh and a friend ventured to harvest mangoes in a nearby community before deciding to visit the river. Tragically, Nyandamoh disappeared while bathing, leaving his friend bewildered and initiating a frantic search that ended with the grim discovery of his body in the river.
In both cases, grief-stricken families have had to come to terms with the loss of their loved ones amidst the devastating circumstances of their untimely deaths.
Adding to the somber atmosphere, the mysterious death of electrician Tamba Kono further deepens the community’s sense of loss. Kono reportedly passed away while on duty in a stationed vehicle at a garage in Koeyor Community, Koidu City. Despite efforts to determine the cause of death, his demise remains shrouded in mystery.
Komba Sourie, the media officer attached to the Tankoro Police Divisional Headquarters in Koidu City, disclosed that despite investigations, no foul play was found in the deaths of Nyandamoh and Kono, leading authorities to hand over their remains to their families for burial. The families of the deceased have accepted the findings, describing their deaths as natural tragedies.
As communities reel from these losses, questions linger about safety protocols and the need for heightened vigilance to prevent further tragedies from occurring.
