Yendi School Closed After Armed Men Allegedly Storm Campus During Land Dispute

Zohe E.P. Primary and Junior High School in Yendi has been temporarily closed after armed men allegedly entered the campus, assaulted the junior high school headmaster and reportedly fired gunshots during a dispute over land. Police have launched an investigation while education authorities have suspended classes as a precaution.

YENDI, Ghana — Authorities have temporarily closed Zohe E.P. Primary and Junior High School in Yendi following an alleged armed attack on the campus that reportedly left the junior high school headmaster injured and forced the suspension of academic activities while police investigate.

According to statements issued by school authorities and the Evangelical Presbyterian Church (E.P. Church), Ghana, the incident occurred on Thursday morning after a dispute over land located behind the school’s football field. The Ghana Police Service has confirmed that investigations are underway.

School authorities allege that a group of armed men linked to the Zohe NAAS Palace entered the school premises, physically assaulted the junior high school headmaster, Mr Gazali, and reportedly discharged several gunshots, causing panic among pupils, teachers and residents in the surrounding community.

Nukunya News has not independently verified those allegations. The individuals accused in the statements had not publicly responded at the time of publication.

Mr Gazali reportedly sustained injuries during the incident and was taken to hospital for medical examination and treatment. His condition has not been publicly disclosed by health authorities.

The Municipal Director of Education for Yendi subsequently ordered the immediate closure of Zohe E.P. School until further notice, describing the decision as a precautionary measure to safeguard pupils, teachers and other staff while police investigations continue.

Education officials said the Municipal Directorate of Education and the District Pastor of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Ghana, were informed shortly after the incident and have been working with security agencies to manage the situation.

Land dispute at the centre of incident

Background information released by the school states that the dispute concerns a parcel of church-owned land located immediately behind the school’s football field.

According to the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, the land forms part of church property reserved for the future expansion of the school and is not part of the existing school buildings. School authorities allege that individuals connected to the Zohe Palace allocated portions of the land to private developers, who subsequently placed shipping containers on the site and began construction activities.

Teachers and administrators reportedly objected, arguing that development so close to classrooms and the football field posed safety risks for pupils and could affect teaching and sporting activities. It was after those objections, according to the school’s account, that the alleged attack occurred. Those claims have not been independently verified, and Nukunya News has sought additional information from the Ghana Police Service.

Investigation underway

The Ghana Police Service has opened an investigation into the incident. As of publication, police had not announced any arrests or publicly confirmed details surrounding the reported gunfire or the identities of those allegedly involved. Likewise, Nukunya News has not received a response from representatives of the Zohe Palace regarding the allegations contained in the school’s statement. Their response will be included once received.

Wider significance

Yendi is the administrative capital of the Yendi Municipality in Ghana’s Northern Region.

Although violent incidents within schools remain relatively uncommon in Ghana, disputes over land ownership involving educational institutions occasionally arise and often require intervention by traditional authorities, religious organisations, local government and the courts.

The latest incident is likely to renew discussions about protecting educational institutions from violence and ensuring that disagreements over land ownership are resolved through lawful and peaceful means without disrupting children’s education.

Education authorities have appealed for calm while investigations continue. The Evangelical Presbyterian Church also called for restraint, condemning violence and intimidation within educational institutions and urging all parties to cooperate fully with investigators. Police said investigations remain ongoing, and the school will remain closed until education authorities determine that it is safe for pupils and staff to return.

Breaking News Explainer

What We Know

Authorities have launched investigations after an alleged armed incident forced the temporary closure of Zohe E.P. Primary and Junior High School. The information below reflects publicly reported facts available at the time of publication.

Verified Information

• Zohe E.P. Primary and Junior High School has been temporarily closed.
• The closure followed an alleged armed attack on the school campus.
• The JHS headmaster reportedly sustained injuries and received medical treatment.
• School authorities allege that gunshots were fired during the incident.
• Police have opened an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
• The dispute reportedly centres on church-owned land reserved for future school expansion.
• No arrests had been announced at the time of publication.

Nukunya Analysis

Why This Matters

The incident highlights the importance of safeguarding educational institutions from violence while ensuring pupils, teachers and staff can learn and work in a secure environment.

It also demonstrates how unresolved land disputes can disrupt education, interrupt academic activities and create wider public safety concerns for surrounding communities.

Beyond this individual case, the events reinforce the need for disputes involving schools and public institutions to be resolved through lawful dialogue, mediation and established judicial processes rather than confrontation.