The body of a teenager identified as Beshir Samuel Oromo, 16, was found floating on the River Kineti in Torit Town on Wednesday.
According to sources, the deceased drowned while attempting to cross the river while going to the garden last Friday.
Several residents of the Mairo suburb in Torit town said the deceased suffered from a mental disorder as a result of epilepsy that often put him at risk when crossing streams and rivers and in danger if exposed to fire and movement at night.
Iyan James, the youth leader in the Mairo residential area, told Radio Tamazuj Wednesday that Oromo’s body was discovered floating on the river at 7 a.m. on Wednesday.
“The boy disappeared days ago and when the information reached us that day, we went searching but we were not able to find him. Information reached us on Wednesday morning that a dead body appeared in the river near the farm of the priests where people plant vegetables. A mango tree had fallen into the river and blocked the body,” he explained. “We were able to retrieve the body which was just floating, at 7 a.m. on Wednesday. The boy even knew how to swim but suffered from mental complications. His name is Beshir Samuel Oromo, and he hailed from Omogoro Boma in Imotong.”
“His relatives were aware of his sickness and knew that he could get an epileptic attack any time and fall,” Iyan added.
He appealed to the government to build multiple bridges across the Kineti River and deploy civil defense personnel along the river to rescue those drowning.
The youth leader also urged inhabitants of Torit to avoid going to the river if they cannot swim or when intoxicated.
“If you cannot swim, do not go near the river or even attempt to swim. I also urge parents to take good care of their children and prevent them from going near streams and the river because children are often the victims of drowning,” he cautioned. “Those who drink and try to cross the river while returning home also fall in at times and end up drowning.”
For his part, Major General John Luny, the Deputy Commissioner of Police in Eastern Equatoria State, said the case of the deceased missing was not reported to the police and other concerned authorities.
“The relatives of the deceased did not come and report anything to the police. Maybe you can find out from the fire brigade because this is their work and cases of drowning are in their jurisdiction,” he said. “The police have the right to follow if it is reported to them. They (family) were supposed to report the case so that we can intervene but there was no report at all.”
Meanwhile, Davidika Ikai, the acting chairperson of the Eastern Equatoria State Women Association, expressed sadness and sorrow for the loss of the teenager and warned parents against sending vulnerable children to water sources.
“We have to protect our children and not let them go alone to the river. We should teach our children to bathe at home because the level of the river has risen and it is flowing fast and if children go alone, they can drown,” she said. “If a child is going to the river, they must be accompanied by an older person for safety.”
Last week, a school girl, Achala Akayak, 8, drowned in the Ilangi stream in Torit town.