Nanumba Traditional Council condemns tragic killing of student during Bugum Festival

The Nanumba Traditional Council has condemned the tragic death of a female student of Bimbilla Senior High School during this year's Fire Festival celebrations at Bimbilla in the Nanumba North Municipality of the Northern Region.

The tragic incident happened on July 5, 2025.

In a press statement sighted by the Ghana News Agency (GNA), the Council confirmed that the student died after being struck by a stray bullet believed to have been discharged from an unauthorised firearm during the festivities.

The statement said, “this is the first time in the long and revered history of our beloved cultural event that such a heartbreaking loss has occurred."

It added that the entire Nanung traditional area was in mourning.

It extended condolences to the bereaved family describing the incident as “A tragedy that resonates deeply with all of us.”

It said the Council had earlier issued clear and firm warnings prior to the celebration, explicitly banning the use of unauthorised firearms and other dangerous weapons to protect public safety and uphold the sanctity of the festival.

The statement said “The use of unauthorized weapons during our cultural celebration is not part of our tradition. It is a perilous deviation that we, as guardians of our heritage, will not accept.”

It described the act as not merely an accident but a criminal offence and called on the security agencies to expedite investigations and ensure that those responsible were held accountable.

It said, “We urge the security agencies to speed up their investigations and ensure that those responsible for this tragedy face justice. No one, no matter their status or intentions, should escape accountability.”

It said “The palace will collaborate closely with law enforcement to ensure such incidents never happen again. Our culture is a living legacy meant to unite and uplift us, not to claim innocent lives.”

GNA