Eight-year-old boy dies as quarry collapses on him
Rumours of "manhood theft" -– where victims believe their genitals are shrinking or retracting into the body -- are not uncommon in Nigeria and other parts of West Africa and often lead to mob violence.
What you need to know:
- Bereaved mother said she heard her son crying out and rushed to the scene only to find the boy trapped under heavy rocks.
- Police managed to recover the body after fours and took it to Kibugi Funeral Home in Kutus town.
An eight-year-old boy was Friday buried alive when a quarry collapsed at Kwavii village in Kirinyaga County.
The boy had accompanied her mother, Susan Muthoni, who works at the quarry when the tragedy that left everyone at the village shocked struck.
According to eyewitnesses, Ian Mureithi, left his mother who was crashing stones and started roaming round the quarry.
Suddenly, the walls of the quarry caved in, burying him alive.
"The upper parts of the deeply excavated quarry collapsed, sending boulders to cover the boy who was playing in the area," an eyewitness explained.
The bereaved mother said she heard her son crying out and rushed to the scene only to find the boy trapped under heavy rocks.
She raised an alarm, attracting the attention of her co-workers. All their efforts to rescue the boy were to no avail.
Fatal incident
"We really tried to rescue my son but we were unable to save his life," the tearful mother said.
Ms Muthoni said the boulders which came tumbling down killing her son had been weakened by heavy rains which have been pounding the area.
Mwea West police boss Aden Alio said officers were dispatched to the scene immediately and the incident was reported to assist in the rescue mission.
"The rescue team had a difficult time trying to remove the body of the victim which was trapped in the rubble of the collapsed quarry," said Mr Alio.
The police managed to recover the body after fours and took it to Kibugi Funeral Home in Kutus town.
Mr Alio said it was unfortunate the life of a minor had been lost and advised parents working in the quarry to take care of their children to avoid such fatal incidences.
