A Junior High School graduate tragically lost his life during the Wulensi Fire Festival in the Nunumba South District of the Northern Region on Wednesday, July 17, 2024.

Earlier reports indicated that the fatality occurred when a musket he was trying to fire exploded.

However, the family of the deceased has refuted the claims that the boy’s death was caused by an exploding musket he tried to fire.

Speaking with Happy Kasiebo, a cousin of the deceased who doubles as the assembly member for Takpema Electoral Area, Yakubu Mananu, dismissed claims that his 16-year-old cousin, Kylan, died from an exploding musket he tried firing. He explained that Kylan was merely a bystander, observing the festival, and was struck by a stray bullet.

He stated that to participate in the fire festival, one must be actively involved in the celebrations, but Kylan was merely standing and observing. He emphasized that a 16-year-old boy would not be able to hold such a gun. He noted that there were no police officers present at the festival, which allowed celebrants to carry weapons like AK-47s, contrary to the traditional use of leaves, branches, and locally manufactured gunpowder machines.

He said, “I am an indigene, you understand. At the fire festival, it is not allowed for you to be holding an AK-47. These are very serious weapons, you understand. The only things that are allowed are leaves, some branches, and these locally manufactured gunpowder machines. These are the things that we normally use during the fire festival. So where did the AK-47 and these big, big machine guns come from?”

He stated that community leaders have decided to enforce stricter regulations next year, ensuring no one is allowed to carry weapons.

He said the family has since buried Kylan.