Teen Girl Fatally Shot by Stray Bullet During Bimbilla Fire Festival

A celebration turned tragic on July 5, 2025, during the annual Fire Festival in Bimbilla, as a young girl, Fatima, was fatally shot by a stray bullet amidst the revelry.

Fatima, a Form Two student of Bimbilla Senior High School, reportedly defied her parents’ warnings and secretly joined friends to witness the event. The procession, which traditionally moves from the regent’s palace to the Wampu Dam in the Nanumba North Municipality of the Northern Region, involves symbolic fire-throwing to commemorate historical events. But this year’s celebration was marred by sorrow.

Eyewitness Mohammed Abdul-Rashid, speaking to reporters, recounted the harrowing moment:

“I was at the palace when we heard the incident, so we rushed to the hospital, and the dead body was brought in. I even helped in removing the dead body,” he said solemnly.

A friend of the deceased later confirmed that they had snuck out from Bayawaya, a suburb in Bimbilla, against their parents’ wishes.

“When we asked, the lady told us the girl was from an area called Bayawaya in Bimbilla, and her name is Fatima. She said their parents didn’t want them to come out, so they hid and sneaked to the scene,” added Natogmah, another witness.

The identity of the individual who fired the stray bullet remains unknown, and shockingly, no formal police investigation had begun at the time of the report.

The Regent of Bimbilla, Nyelimbolgu Naa Yakubu Andani II, had earlier issued a stern warning to festival-goers, urging them to celebrate peacefully and avoid any acts that could tarnish the festival’s significance.

This heartbreaking incident raises serious concerns about crowd safety, the use of firearms during traditional festivals, and the enforcement of safety protocols. As Fatima’s family mourns their irreplaceable loss, the community is left grappling with questions and a strong demand for accountability.The Fire Festival, meant to unite and celebrate history, now bears the pain of a young life lost too soon. Fatima’s death is a painful reminder that traditions, while cherished, must never come at the cost of human life.