The acting commissioner of police in Lakes State, Maj. Gen. Enock Majok Machar said the young girl fell into a dam full of water.

By Makur Adut

A 12-year-old girl drowned in a stagnant water at a murrum excavation site previously used by aconstruction company in Rumbek.

It is the third incident following last year’s where two other children also died in the same place after jumping into the stagnated water.

The acting commissioner of police in Lakes State, Maj. Gen. Enock Majok Machar said the young girl fell into a dam full of water.

“These girls came carrying a bundle of firewood, and put down their firewood and went to drink from that water well because they were thirsty,” he said.

“This is where this girl aged 12 fell into the water and died inside.”

He said some people tried to remove her from the water but she had already died after swallowing too much water.

He urged parents to avoid sending underage girls to fetch firewood in the forests.

“Such minor incidences can cause the life of our children,” he said.”

“It’s the role of everyone in the village including fathers, mothers, and chiefs in the community to take care of their children.”

He further said it is not the role of police all the time to be on the lookout and detect every potential danger, including at individual’s private properties.

“Even cows and goats if they are allowed to go and drink from that water unchecked, they will still fall into the well and die,” Majok stated.

He highlighted the risk and dangers posed by the stagnated water, and the negligence by the construction company, which left the area unattended to.

“It’s the role of everyone in the village including fathers, mothers, and chiefs in the community to take care of their children,” acting commissioner of police in Lakes State, Maj. Gen. Enock Majok Machar said.