Bawku SHS Shuts Down After Final-Year Student Shot Dead on Campus
Bawku Senior High School, located in Ghana’s Upper East Region, has been plunged into mourning and chaos after a chilling incident that claimed the life of one of its students.
Hakim Kundima, a third-year student preparing for his final examinations, was fatally shot on campus on the evening of Saturday, July 26. According to eyewitness accounts, the attack happened around 8:30 p.m., when unidentified assailants scaled the school’s wall, forcefully entered the dormitory, dragged Hakim outside, and shot him before fleeing the scene.
The attack sent shockwaves through the school community and sparked panic among students and staff.
Tahiru Kundima, the victim’s older brother, confirmed the devastating news. He revealed that the Bawku Divisional Police Commander personally delivered the body to their family. Speaking through grief, Tahiru suggested that the killing may be connected to the protracted ethnic conflict in the Bawku area — a region that has seen sporadic violence over the years.
On Sunday, July 27, the Bawku Municipal Director of Education, Isaac Agbeko Azasoo, announced the immediate and indefinite closure of the school. “We cannot risk more lives. It’s about the safety of our students and teachers,” he stated.
Disturbingly, this tragic event coincided with another school shooting incident at Nalerigu Senior High School, where two students were also gunned down, raising urgent national conversations about the safety of school environments in Ghana’s northern belt.
As of now, no arrests have been made in connection with Hakim’s murder, and police investigations are underway. Authorities urge anyone with information to assist in tracking the perpetrators.
This wave of violence has once again spotlighted the fragile security situation in parts of northern Ghana and its toll on education. Parents are worried, educators are calling for better protection, and communities are crying out for peace.
