By David Philip Baguru
Two children aged between 12 and 13 have died after falling into a well in Hai Kresh B residential area of Wau, Western Bahr el Ghazal State.
State Police Spokesperson Colonel Santino Udol Mayen Agei confirmed the incident, saying police and other forces retrieved the children from the well, but they were already dead.
He said the bodies were taken to hospital, but the children could not be saved because of the length of time they had spent inside the well.
Police have launched an investigation to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Colonel Santino Udol also reported a reduction in crime across Western Bahr el Ghazal State, describing the development as a positive sign for security in the state.
He said police recently arrested a suspect accused of attacking a person with a knife along a road at around 7 p.m.
The suspect remains in police custody as investigations continue.
Following the deaths of the two children, police are urging well owners to properly cover and secure wells to prevent similar incidents.
Colonel Santino Udol expressed condolences to the bereaved families and called for patience as authorities investigate the incident and pursue justice.
Police are also calling on community members to help prevent similar tragedies by ensuring wells are properly covered and reporting unsafe wells to the authorities.