Stray Bullet Claims Life of Young Girl at Bimbilla Fire Festival
Bimbilla, Northern Region - 6 July, 2025 - A 17-year-old student, Fatima, has tragically lost her life in a shooting incident during the Fire Festival, also known as Bugum Chugu, in Bimbilla, Northern Region.
The festival, celebrated by the Dagomba and Nanumba ethnic groups, aims to commemorate a historic event involving a legendary search with torches.
However, the celebration took a deadly turn when Fatima, a second-year student at Bimbilla Senior High School, was hit by a stray bullet while participating in a procession from the regent's palace to the Wampu Dam.
According to eyewitnesses, the bullet was allegedly fired by a celebrant using a small arm amid the jubilation. The source of the gunshot remains unknown, and police investigations are yet to commence. The incident has sparked widespread condemnation, with many calling for stricter enforcement of gun laws and public education to ensure such tragedies do not recur.
The Regent of Bimbilla, Nyelimbolgu Naa Yakubu Andani II, had cautioned against any acts that could disrupt the celebration, emphasizing the importance of the festival and urging youth to conduct themselves with decorum.
Despite this warning, the celebrations were marred by widespread gunfire and the use of explosives, creating chaotic scenes and endangering public safety.
This incident is not isolated, as fatal shootings during Fire Festival celebrations have become recurrent in recent years. In response, the Ghana National Commission on Small Arms and Light Weapons issued a public advisory urging citizens to refrain from using small arms during traditional festivals, citing the risks of accidental shootings, injuries, and fatalities.
The Commission's Acting Executive Secretary, Dr. Adam Bonaa, stressed that firearms are not toys and their misuse endangers lives. The police have launched an investigation into the incident and are working to identify those responsible. Fatima's death has sent shockwaves across the community, with many mourning her loss and calling for reforms to ensure such tragedies do not happen again.
Source: Lead News Online
