IHUGH, Benue State (Daily Talk) – The Catholic bishop whose Diocese owns St. Winifred’s Girls’ Secondary School in Ihugh has ordered the immediate closure of the school, its missionary hospital and the local parish, after a fourth fire in the school community and what he regards as unfulfilled assurances from stakeholders in the host community.
The decision by Bishop William Amove Avenya followed an emotional open letter from the school’s principal, Rev. Fr. Isaac Ishalegh, who apologised to students and their parents and guardians for failing to guarantee their safety.
The cause of the fires has not been officially established, and no arrests have been reported in the materials available to Daily Talk.
Principal’s Letter to Students and Parents
In the letter, titled “A Letter of Apology to My Beloved Students and Their Parents/Guardians,” Ishalegh said he wrote “not merely as the head of an institution but as a father” and asked for forgiveness for being unable to provide the peace and stability the students deserved.
He recounted that after the first fire he assured students that better days would come, and repeated the assurance after the second. When the third incident followed only two days later, he said, the students told him they no longer wanted “better things” and wished only for their “poor but peaceful home.”
The principal said some students had to continue their education in other schools after the earlier fires. He said the proprietor was ready to act swiftly, but that school officials asked him to be patient because stakeholders, including members of the host community, had promised that such incidents would not recur.
According to the letter, those stakeholders also pledged that the affected buildings would be rebuilt within three months, before students returned in September 2026, and that those responsible would face the law. Ishalegh wrote that students returned to find the promises had not been met.
Fourth Fire on Sunday
The principal wrote that on Friday, October 9, students noticed something suspicious suggesting an attempt to set one of the remaining hostels on fire. He said he alerted the relevant authorities and others he believed could intervene.
Before the matter was resolved, he said, another fire broke out on Sunday morning, the fourth in the school community. Students fled the premises in distress. He wrote that some of them did not reach home until about 11 p.m., leaving parents and guardians anxious. The letter did not report any casualties.
“The system failed me, just as it failed you,” Ishalegh wrote, adding that he was not writing to apportion blame. He said he could no longer promise students’ safety in the community under present circumstances, and that arrangements for the continuation of their studies would be communicated later.
Earlier Fires and Background
The school is located in Ihugh, in Vandeikya Local Government Area of Benue State. Leadership newspaper reported earlier this year that three separate fires had destroyed three hostels within six months, and that the school was the first and only girls’ secondary school in the local government area. The report also described growing anxiety among parents and residents over the unexplained recurrence.
Also Read: Farmer Governor Umaru Bago Donates N100 Million to FUT Minna for the Construction of Hostels
Uncertain Future for Students
The closure leaves students without a boarding school, a development that affects education for girls in an area with few comparable options. Ishalegh urged students to stay prayerful, remain close to their families and not allow the experience to destroy their hopes for the future.
He also thanked parents and guardians for their patience, writing that he loved the students,
“fought” for them and wanted the best for them. He said he believed that one day a former student would “rise to seek justice for what happened.”
Police and the state government had not publicly commented on the latest incident at the time of publication. Daily Talk has sought comment from the school management and will update this report.
More local reports are available in Daily Talk’s Metro section.