Authorities in Aweil town are investigating after the body of an unidentified man was recovered from a water-filled excavation site on Monday, police said.
The body was discovered in the Maper Akot area on the west side of Aweil, the capital of Northern Bahr el Ghazal state.
A police official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Radio Tamazuj that the victim appeared to be about 27 years old. The body has been taken to the mortuary at Aweil State Hospital pending identification and collection by family members.
“The case has been filed at the Maper Akot Police Station and assigned investigators are working to gather information on the incident,” the official said. “We urge any family who is missing a relative to come forward.”
Authorities declined to comment on a possible cause of death, stating the information is confidential until the victim’s family is notified.
Aweil Town Mayor Joseph Yach Deng said the town’s overall security situation remains stable but confirmed the investigation is ongoing.
“If there are cases like what happened Monday, it is necessary to investigate, find the real cause, and release the full information to the public,” Deng said. He noted that several deaths have occurred over the years at the excavation site, though the causes are often unclear.
Christopher Anei Deng, the executive director of the local group Action for Youth Aid & Development, condemned the incident. He called for the establishment of more police community centers in villages to improve crime response times.