Catholic Diocese shuts schools, hospital, parish in Gboko

From Scholastica Hir, Makurdi

Catholic Diocese of Gboko has ordered the indefinite closure of four Church-owned institutions in Ihugh, Vandeikya Local Government Area of Benue State, after a fourth hostel fire at St. Winifred Girls Secondary School within a year.

The directive affects St. Winifred Secondary School, St. Winifred Nursery and Primary School, St. Thomas Hospital—including Salus Mind Care Centre and its chaplaincy—and St. Winifred Parish.

The latest fire gutted a block of the girls’ hostel in the early hours of Sunday, October 11. No casualty had been reported at the time of filing, while the cause remained unknown.

In a pastoral letter and decree issued on October 12, Bishop of Gboko, Most Rev. William Avenya, attributed the closures to repeated destruction, alleged attacks and disturbances affecting Church properties in the community.

The decree, co-signed by the bishop and diocesan Chancellor, Rev. Fr. Marcellinus Wende, took effect immediately and said the institutions would remain closed until the diocese was satisfied that lasting peace and adequate security had been established.

“Beloved in Christ, it is with a heavy heart, after much prayer, reflection and consultation, that we address you on a matter of deep sorrow for our Diocese.

“Over a considerable period, the Catholic institutions in Ihugh have suffered repeated disturbances, attacks and acts of destruction,” the letter read.

The diocese listed the hostel fires as occurring on October 28, 2025; May 10 and May 15, 2026; and October 11, 2026, saying they had destroyed students’ shelter and placed students, teachers and other staff in danger.

It also cited burglaries at St. Winifred Parish, criminal incidents at St. Thomas Hospital and disturbances during the hospital’s reopening on June 21, 2024, when, according to the letter, protesters carried placards and chanted that they no longer wanted the Reverend Sisters to work in Ihugh.

The diocese described the incidents as part of a pattern of hostility towards Church-owned properties, including alleged arson and harassment.

“The Church exists to bring life. Our schools, hospital and parish in Ihugh were established for the good of all, irrespective of creed or origin. It is therefore a source of profound grief that works meant for the common good have repeatedly become targets,” the letter stated.

Avenya directed the withdrawal of priests, consecrated persons, catechists, pastoral workers, teachers, medical personnel and other diocesan employees from the affected institutions.

He said engagements with the host community, traditional rulers, elders and civil and security authorities had not produced the assurances required for continued operations.

“The Church cannot, in conscience, continue to expose her priests, consecrated persons, teachers, medical personnel, students and patients to danger.”

The bishop said the decision was taken with sorrow rather than anger and that the diocese remained open to reconciliation if genuine efforts were made to restore peace and guarantee safety.

He directed that pupils and students should, as far as possible, be assisted to continue their education in other Catholic schools within the diocese. Patients at St. Thomas Hospital are to be referred to other health facilities, with arrangements to protect those requiring urgent care.

The diocese called on traditional rulers, community elders, youth leaders, government officials and security agencies to restore peace and bring those responsible for the alleged destruction to justice.

It said the closures were temporary in intent, although indefinite in duration, and that a return would depend on genuine repentance, restitution and credible, lasting guarantees of safety.

Some parents said they had decided to withdraw their children, while others appealed for the school to be relocated outside Vandeikya Local Government Area.

“This is the fourth time fire has gutted a hostel in that school, and we, the parents, have appealed to the Bishop to relocate the school to another local government, not even within Vandeikya,” a parent said.

The block affected by Sunday’s fire was reportedly renovated by the Ihugh community after an earlier outbreak. Avenya had previously threatened to relocate the school but reconsidered following appeals from members of the community.