The Catholic Diocese of Gboko has ordered the indefinite closure of all its establishments in Ihugh the city of Vandeikya Native Executive House of Benue State, following repeated arson assaults on faculty hostels and different church homes.
Our correspondent studies that the verdict, which additionally comes to the withdrawal of all clergymen, non secular staff, academics and scientific workforce serving locally, adopted the most recent fireplace outbreak at St. Winifred Women Secondary Faculty on Sunday, October 11, 2026.
The hearth, which gutted a hostel block on the all-girls faculty, was once the fourth such incident on the establishment since October 2025 and the 3rd in 4 months, elevating recent issues over the security of scholars and the protection of church-owned amenities locally.
In a pastoral letter and decree dated October 12, 2026, the Bishop of Gboko Diocese, Maximum Rev. William Avenya, mentioned the verdict adopted years of hostility, together with repeated fires on the faculty, power housebreaking at St. Winifred Parish and felony assaults on St. Thomas Medical institution.
The Bishop additionally cited an incident all over the reopening of the clinic on June 21, 2024, when some individuals allegedly declared that they now not sought after Reverend Sisters to paintings locally.
He mentioned that the diocese had made a number of makes an attempt to get to the bottom of the location thru discussion with conventional rulers, neighborhood elders, civil government and safety businesses however had but to procure lasting peace and credible promises of protection.
In consequence, the diocese ordered the closure of St. Winifred Women Secondary Faculty, St. Thomas Medical institution, Salus Thoughts Care Centre, Medical institution Chaplaincy, St. Winifred Nursery and Number one Faculty, and St. Winifred Parish, all in Ihugh.
Avenya additionally directed the withdrawal of all clergymen, consecrated individuals, catechists, academics, scientific workforce and administrative team of workers serving underneath the diocese locally.
He mentioned preparations can be made for affected scholars to proceed their schooling in different Catholic colleges, whilst sufferers receiving care at St. Thomas Medical institution can be referred to different well being amenities.
Previous, some folks threatened to withdraw youngsters after the most recent fireplace outbreak on Sunday heightened fears amongst them in regards to the scholars protection.
A mum or dad, Paul Tikyaa, who has two youngsters within the faculty, instructed reporters in Makurdi by means of phone that he had made up our minds to withdraw them.
“I’ve made up my thoughts to take my two youngsters out of that faculty. Sooner or later, it is going to be the kids that can be set ablaze. Sufficient is sufficient,” he mentioned.
Any other mum or dad, Mrs Dooshima Agande, mentioned folks had appealed to the Bishop to relocate the college outdoor Vandeikya LGA.
“That is the fourth time fireplace has gutted a hostel in that faculty and we, folks, have now appealed to the Bishop to relocate the college to some other native executive, now not even inside of Vandeikya,” she mentioned.
Our correspondent amassed that the hostel gutted in Sunday’s fireplace had reportedly been renovated by means of contributors of the Ihugh neighborhood following an previous incident during which some other hostel block was once totally razed.
After that incident, Avenya had threatened to relocate the college however reconsidered following appeals from neighborhood contributors.
A trade rich person and flesh presser, 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 at the faculty premises to be able to save you additional incidents.
On the other hand, the most recent outbreak has renewed issues in regards to the effectiveness of measures taken to offer protection to the establishment as the reason for the fireplace had but to be established as of the time of submitting this document,
Police Public Family members Officer (PPRO) for Benue command, DSP Peter Aondongu, additionally showed the fireplace incident, pronouncing no lifestyles was once misplaced.
“Sure, there was once a hearth incident, however no lifestyles was once misplaced. The police are lately investigating the incident,” the PPRO mentioned.
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