Zuarungu Senior High School in the Upper East Region has been temporarily shut down after a violent clash between students from two ethnic groups.
The incident happened on Sunday, July 20, 2025, following accusations that three students from one ethnic group had stolen mobile phones belonging to others. The disagreement quickly escalated into a physical fight and full-blown riot.
During the chaos, a student reportedly tried to grab a police officer’s weapon, raising serious security concerns. One student was injured, and four others have been arrested.
Upper East Regional Minister, Akamugri Donatus Atanga, visited the school and announced its closure. He said the school would stay shut until investigations are completed and urged parents to support school rules, especially around mobile phone use.
Eyewitnesses said the school’s security couldn’t control the situation, which led to the burning of a grocery shop owned by a woman from one of the ethnic groups involved. The shop owner, Agile Ajaratu, said everything was destroyed before firefighters arrived.
Police and military officers were deployed to restore calm. Students were later evacuated with help from nearby schools.
Authorities plan to meet parents and guardians soon to discuss how to prevent similar incidents in the future.
