C/R: 20 Children Feared Drowned In Apam River

Some twenty unidentified children are feared dead after going swimming in the Apam River located in the Central Region on Monday, March 8. The District Police Commander, DSP Moses Osakono confirmed that eight bodies had been retrieved from the river in the morning. After a further search, the death count so far is 12. Also, three people are in critical condition and have been sent

to the hospital. The police added that the 12 deceased are between the ages of 14 and 17. Their bodies have all been deposited at the morgue of the Apam District Hospital for autopsy. DSP Moses Osakono indicated that the police and a search team have been dispatched to the scene in hope of retrieving the remaining bodies. We were able to retrieve six bodies in the morning. We

are collaborating with the DCE. My investigator is also there [Apam River]. So very soon, we will mobilize all the bodies to see how many persons we have lost, he said. According to him, the Apam River has been inaccessible to the public since the outbreak of the Covid-19 panic. No one has been visiting the river. We made a clarion call to ensure that no one goes to the river. We were shocked. It was a shock to us this morning, he said.

DSP Moses Osankono stated that after talking to the community leaders, it has been established that the children were not sighted as they made their way to the river. They [children] did not use the usual route that leads to the river. They said the children used the joint near the river. Even those who are around the area could not see them and He revealed there were rumors on the Sunday evening that someone had drowned but the Police were informed this morning of the incident which turned out be that of the said twenty children.