Senior High School Girl Killed by Stray Bullet at Bimbilla Fire Festival

A sad event happened at the Fire Festival in Bimbilla, a town in the Nanumba North Municipality of the Northern Region of Ghana. A young girl named Fatima, who was a student in year two at Bimbilla Senior High School (SHS), was shot and killed by a stray bullet during the celebration.

The Fire Festival is an important cultural event in Bimbilla. Every year, people come together to celebrate with music, dancing, and fire processions. As part of the tradition, a group of people walk from the Regent’s Palace to the Wampu Dam, where they throw fire to mark the occasion.

According to a journalist from Beat FM, Mohammed Abdul-Rashid Natogmah, the shooting happened while the crowd was moving from the palace to the dam. Mr. Natogmah said he was at the palace when they heard that someone had been shot.

> “I was at the palace when we heard that someone was shot. We quickly went to the hospital to find out what happened. The dead body was brought to the hospital, and I even helped to carry it,” he explained.

Mr. Natogmah also spoke to a young girl who came to the hospital with the body. She was believed to be Fatima’s friend. The friend told them that both she and Fatima had sneaked out of their homes to attend the festival, even though their parents had warned them not to go.

> “The girl told us they came from a place called Bayawaya in Bimbilla. She said their parents didn’t want them to attend the festival, so they sneaked out quietly without telling anyone,” he added.

Right now, no one knows where the bullet came from, and the police have not yet started their investigations. It is not clear whether the shot was fired on purpose or by accident. In some festivals, people sometimes fire guns into the air to celebrate, but this is dangerous and can hurt or kill people.

Before the festival began, the Regent of Bimbilla, Nyelimbolgu Naa Yakubu Andani II, had spoken to the youth and the public. He warned everyone not to engage in violent or unsafe actions during the celebration. He also reminded the community about the importance of the Fire Festival and asked people to celebrate it in a peaceful and respectful way.

> “This festival is very important to our culture. Everyone should behave well so that we can enjoy it together,” the Regent had said.

Unfortunately, despite the Regent’s warning, a young life has been lost. Fatima’s death has made many people sad and angry. Some are asking for better security and safety at public festivals. Others believe that the use of guns during festivals should be banned or strictly controlled to prevent similar tragedies.

Fatima’s story is very painful. She was a young girl with a bright future, but her life ended suddenly because of one careless act. Her death is a reminder to always follow safety rules and for event organizers, the police, and families to work together to keep everyone safe.

Let this be a wake-up call for change.