Authorities have temporarily closed Bawku Senior High School in the Upper East Region following the fatal shooting of a student on campus, heightening concerns over the safety of educational institutions in northern Ghana.

The victim, identified as Hakim Kundima, a third-year student, was killed on the evening of Saturday, July 26, in what is believed to be a targeted attack. According to preliminary reports, unidentified gunmen allegedly scaled the school’s perimeter wall at about 8:30 p.m., dragged Kundima out of his dormitory, and shot him before fleeing the scene.

Confirming the incident, the student’s elder brother, Tahiru Kundima, suggested the attack may be linked to long-standing ethnic tensions in Bawku, an area plagued by intermittent violence rooted in a protracted chieftaincy dispute.

Following the incident, the Bawku Municipal Director of Education, Isaac Agbeko Azasoo, announced the immediate closure of the school, citing security concerns for students and staff.

This tragedy coincides with another violent attack at Nalerigu Senior High School in the North East Region, where two students were shot and killed by unidentified assailants. The twin incidents have sparked alarm over the escalating insecurity in schools across the northern belt.

The Ghana Police Service has launched an investigation into the Bawku shooting, but no arrests have been made, and officials have yet to disclose a motive. The Ministry of Education and national security agencies have not confirmed whether the two attacks are connected.

Source: TheDotNews