Zuarungu Senior High School (SHS) has been temporarily shut down following a violent disturbance on Sunday, July 20, 2025. The incident involved students from two ethnic groups and prompted a swift response from regional authorities.
Reports indicate that the conflict began with allegations of mobile phone theft. Accusations against three students from one group by members of another quickly escalated into a physical confrontation, leading to a widespread riot on the school campus.
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Regional Minister Visits Scene, Investigation Underway
Akamugri Donatus Atanga, the Upper East Regional Minister, visited the school grounds to assess the damage and announced the immediate closure. The Minister confirmed the arrest of four students in connection with the incident. They are currently in police custody while investigations continue.
“During the chaos, one of the students attempted to seize a weapon from a police officer. This presents a serious security concern,” the Minister stated, emphasizing the gravity of the situation.
Minister Atanga clarified that no firearms were recovered from the students. He also noted that only one injury had been reported, explaining that a student sustained a minor head injury during a struggle inside a police vehicle.
The school will remain closed until further notice, allowing for a full investigation to identify and prosecute those responsible for the violence.
“A meeting will be scheduled with parents and guardians to discuss these troubling events and to explore ways to prevent similar incidents in the future,” the Minister added.
Atanga also urged administrators at other secondary institutions to promptly report any similar disturbances to law enforcement. He appealed to parents to support school authorities in upholding regulations, particularly those related to the use of mobile phones.
Shop Burned, Students Evacuated Amid Security Concerns
Eyewitness accounts suggest that the situation spiraled out of control after the school’s internal security was overwhelmed. The riot culminated in the arson of a grocery shop on the school grounds. Sources indicate that the shop was owned by a woman belonging to one of the ethnic groups involved in the conflict.
Personnel from the Ghana Police Service and the Ghana Armed Forces were deployed to restore order. However, tensions rose when a student allegedly tried to disarm a police officer during the evacuation process.
Subsequent reinforcements were deployed to secure the area and ensure the safety of students and school property.
The violence, which appeared to be motivated by ethnic divisions, created a climate of fear among the student body. Many sought refuge in classrooms and dormitories.
Authorities swiftly organized the evacuation of all students, providing a heavy security escort. Buses from nearby secondary schools, including Bolgatanga Senior High School, Zamse Senior High Technical School, Kongo Senior High, and Gambibgo Day Senior High, were used to transport students to secure locations for their return home.
Agile Ajaratu, the owner of the destroyed shop, stated that she was unable to salvage any of her merchandise.
“By the time the Ghana National Fire Service arrived, my entire shop was destroyed by the fire,” she stated. She expressed her dismay that the students had targeted her shop, destroying her only source of income.
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What kind of children are we raising in this era that a student would have the audacity to disarm a police officer…? Eiii