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 stories that the choice, which additionally entails the withdrawal of all clergymen, non secular staff, academics and medical personnel serving locally, adopted the newest 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 issues over the protection of scholars and the safety of church-owned amenities locally.
In a pastoral letter and decree dated October 12, 2026, the Bishop of Gboko Diocese, Most Rev. William Avenya, stated the choice adopted years of hostility, together with repeated fires on the college, persistent housebreaking at St. Winifred Parish and felony attacks on St. Thomas Hospital.
The Bishop additionally cited an incident in the course of the reopening of the hospital on June 21, 2024, when some individuals allegedly declared that they now not wished Reverend Sisters to work locally.
He stated that the diocese had made a number of makes an attempt to resolve the scenario by way of dialogue with conventional rulers, group elders, civil authorities and safety businesses 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 clergymen, consecrated individuals, catechists, academics, medical personnel and administrative workers serving underneath the diocese locally.
He stated preparations can be made for affected college students to proceed their schooling in different Catholic colleges, whereas sufferers receiving care at St. Thomas Hospital can be referred to different well being amenities.
Earlier, some mother and father threatened to withdraw kids after the newest hearth outbreak on Sunday heightened fears amongst them concerning the college students security.
A dad or mum, Paul Tikyaa, who has two kids within the college, informed 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 stated.
Another dad or mum, Mrs Dooshima Agande, stated mother and father had appealed to the Bishop to relocate the varsity 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 stated.
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 wherein one other hostel block was utterly razed.
After that incident, Avenya had threatened to relocate the varsity 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 varsity premises in an effort to forestall additional incidents.
However, the newest outbreak has renewed issues concerning the effectiveness of measures taken to guard the establishment as the reason for the fireplace 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 fireplace 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 stated.
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