The Catholic Diocese of Gboko has ordered the indefinite closure of all its institutions in Ihugh city of Vandeikya Local Government Area of Benue State, following repeated arson attacks on college hostels and different church properties.
Our correspondent reviews that the choice, which additionally includes the withdrawal of all monks, non secular staff, academics and medical personnel serving in the neighborhood, adopted the most recent hearth outbreak at St. Winifred Girls Secondary School on Sunday, October 11, 2026.
The hearth, which gutted a hostel block on the all-girls college, was the fourth such incident on the establishment since October 2025 and the third in 4 months, elevating contemporary considerations over the protection of scholars and the safety of church-owned services in the neighborhood.
In a pastoral letter and decree dated October 12, 2026, the Bishop of Gboko Diocese, Most Rev. William Avenya, mentioned the choice adopted years of hostility, together with repeated fires on the college, persistent housebreaking at St. Winifred Parish and legal attacks on St. Thomas Hospital.
The Bishop additionally cited an incident through the reopening of the hospital on June 21, 2024, when some individuals allegedly declared that they now not wished Reverend Sisters to work in the neighborhood.
He mentioned that the diocese had made a number of makes an attempt to resolve the state of affairs by way of dialogue with conventional rulers, group elders, civil authorities and safety companies however had but to acquire lasting peace and credible ensures of security.
Consequently, the diocese ordered the closure of St. Winifred Girls Secondary School, St. Thomas Hospital, Salus Mind Care Centre, Hospital Chaplaincy, St. Winifred Nursery and Primary School, and St. Winifred Parish, all in Ihugh.
Avenya additionally directed the withdrawal of all monks, consecrated individuals, catechists, academics, medical personnel and administrative employees serving underneath the diocese in the neighborhood.
He mentioned preparations could be made for affected college students to proceed their training in different Catholic colleges, whereas sufferers receiving care at St. Thomas Hospital could be referred to different well being services.
Earlier, some dad and mom threatened to withdraw kids after the most recent hearth outbreak on Sunday heightened fears amongst them concerning the college students security.
A father or mother, Paul Tikyaa, who has two kids within the college, advised journalists in Makurdi by phone that he had determined to withdraw them.
“I have made up my mind to take my two children out of that school. One day, it will be the children that will be set ablaze. Enough is enough,” he mentioned.
Another father or mother, Mrs Dooshima Agande, mentioned dad and mom had appealed to the Bishop to relocate the college outdoors Vandeikya LGA.
“This is the fourth time fire has gutted a hostel in that school and we, parents, have now appealed to the Bishop to relocate the school to another local government, not even within Vandeikya,” she mentioned.
Our correspondent gathered that the hostel gutted in Sunday’s hearth had reportedly been renovated by members of the Ihugh group following an earlier incident during which one other hostel block was fully razed.
After that incident, Avenya had threatened to relocate the college however reconsidered following appeals from group members.
A enterprise mogul and politician, Dr Livinus Tsar, had additionally reportedly undertaken the development of a brand new hostel block, donated N20 million and put in closed-circuit tv cameras on the college premises in an effort to forestall additional incidents.
However, the most recent outbreak has renewed considerations concerning the effectiveness of measures taken to guard the establishment as the reason for the hearth had but to be established as of the time of submitting this report,
Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) for Benue command, DSP Peter Aondongu, additionally confirmed the hearth incident, saying no life was misplaced.
“Yes, there was a fire incident, but no life was lost. The police are currently investigating the incident,” the PPRO mentioned.
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