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Two persons have been reportedly dead and others in serious condition at the Tamale teaching Hospital during this year's fire festival.

The two died in Sang, a district capital in the region.

According to an eye witness account, a tipper truck which was traveling the Yendi-Tamale road failed brakes and slashed through the charged celebrators upon reaching Sang. 

The account said, the over joyous celebrators refused to give way to the truck despite continuous blowing of horns.

It said the celebrators had thought the vehicle will do the normal thing by slowing and succumbing to their wild display but luck alluded them when the driver couldn't stop.

The driver however managed to make a stop after running through the crowd but came down and sped off leaving his poor conductor to the wrath of the celebrants.

The Eye witness said the driver's 'mate' was lynched and the vehicle set ablaze.

Another incident happened in Tamale the regional capital where two females both 19yr old were hit by stray bullet.

It happened around the Dakpema Naa's palace when one unidentified celebrant fired live bullet into the loose crowd.

The bullet hit the ladies at a close range and they fell unconscious immediately. 

They were rushed to the Tamale Teaching Hospital and were said to be battling with their lives.

BRIEF HISTORY OF THE FESTIVAL

There are conflicting history to the origin of the Bugum festival celebrated every year by the Dagomba people where torches are lit and thrown at a spot outskirt the community.

The first one dates back to the days of Prophet Noah where it is claimed that when the Ark of Noah landed at the
end of the floods the passengers lit torches to find the son of prophet Noah who failed to enter the Ark when it set out with the believers.

The second claim is a folktale about a mythical king whose son went out to play and got stolen by an evil tree.
The king organized his warriors who lit torches in search for the son and later found him deeply asleep under the tree.
The King declared the tree evil and ordered that every year torches be lit and thrown at the tree.

THE CELEBRATION IN TAMALE

This year's 'Bugum' festival however recorded an unprecedented low turn out especially in Tamale, largely due to a purported reprisal attacks by a youth group in protest against a court decision to acquit and discharge some NPP activists who were condemned to death by a Court in the metropolis.

The few other variables accounted for the abysmal patronage of the festival on the Friday night were insecurity, lost of interest and religious extremism.

The Bugum festival noted for its energetic magical display and humorous acrobatics was reduced to a mere opportunity for underage teenagers to display how bad they can dress and smoke on the streets of Tamale which is in contrast to the creed of the festival.

Even though the atmosphere was charged, the mood was belligerent and ominous, all that could be seen was an indiscriminate firing of guns, drum beating and 'Sakawa' boys throwing up monies to probably woo their targets; the prancing naughty teenagers.

The Police said it dispatched 100 men and a complement team of about 70 armed military personnel to the event to ensure peaceful celebration.