Bawku SHS closed down after final-year student gunned down on campus

• The Bawku Senior High School (SHS) suffers temporary closure after the shooting of a final year student on campus. 
• Final-year students preparing to write the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) will resume first on August 7

Authorities have ordered the temporary closure of Bawku Senior High School (SHS) following the fatal shooting of a final-year student on the school’s campus. The tragic incident occurred on the night of Saturday, July 26, sparking fresh security concerns in the already volatile Bawku municipality.

The decision to shut down the school was made public by the Bawku Municipal Director of Education, Isaac Agbeko Azasoo on Sunday, July 27. According to him, the closure was necessary to prioritize the safety and well-being of both students and staff while the situation is assessed.

“We have decided to give the school a temporary break so that we can go back to our various homes and to our families. Management will communicate with you on when to come back. We are most concerned about the final-year students who have just about a week to start their exams,” Mr. Azasoo said.

Final-year students preparing to write the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) will resume first on August 7, followed later by students in Forms One and Two.

The student, identified as Hakim Kundima, was reportedly attacked around 8:30 PM when unidentified gunmen allegedly scaled the school’s fence and stormed the dormitory. Sources say he was dragged outside and shot in what many fear was a deliberate and targeted act of violence.

The attackers fled the scene after the shooting, and as of now, no arrests have been made.

Hakim’s elder brother, Tahiru Kundima, who confirmed the incident, said the body had been released to the family by the Bawku Divisional Police Commander. He also suggested the attack might be linked to the protracted ethnic tensions in the area.

READ: BREAKING: SHS Students evacuated from Bawku, Nalerigu over curfew

He further alleged that the attack could be linked to the longstanding ethnic conflict in the Bawku area, which has been a source of insecurity for years.

School authorities and security agencies say they are coordinating closely to review safety measures before any reopening.