Benue: Catholic Diocese shuts schools, hospital, parish over arson, attacks

By Benedicta Aboh

The Catholic Diocese of Gboko, Benue State, has ordered the indefinite closure of four Church institutions in Ihugh, Vandeikya Local Government Area, following repeated arson attacks, burglaries and alleged harassment of its personnel.

The affected institutions are St. Winifred Secondary School, St. Winifred Nursery and Primary School, St. Thomas Hospital, including Salus Mind Care Center and its chaplaincy, and St. Winifred Parish, Ihugh.

The Diocese also ordered the immediate withdrawal of all priests, Reverend Sisters, teachers, medical personnel, catechists and other workers serving in the institutions, effective October 12, 2026, pending further notice.

The decision was contained in a pastoral letter and decree signed by the Bishop of the Diocese, Most Rev. William Avenya, and the Diocesan Chancellor, Rev. Fr. Marcellinus Wende, on October 12, 2026.

The Diocese said the decision followed repeated attacks, particularly the burning of students' hostels at St. Winifred Secondary School on October 28, 2025, May 10, May 15 and October 11, 2026.

Expressing sadness over the incidents, the Diocese said the attacks had destroyed years of investment and exposed students, teachers and other personnel to danger.

It stated: "Over a considerable period, the Catholic institutions in Ihugh have suffered repeated disturbances, attacks and acts of destruction.

"Among these were the recent burning down of the students' hostels of St. Winifred Secondary School, Ihugh, October 28th, 2025, May 10th, 2026, May 15th, 2026, and October 11th, 2026, acts that have destroyed the shelter of young people entrusted to our care, wiped out the labour and sacrifices of many years, and placed the lives and safety of students, teachers and staff in grave danger."

The Diocese also cited persistent burglaries at St. Winifred Parish and repeated criminal incidents at St. Thomas Hospital.

It recalled that during the reopening of St. Thomas Hospital on June 21, 2024, some residents allegedly displayed placards and chanted slogans demanding the withdrawal of the Reverend Sisters from Ihugh.

"The persistent burning down of St. Winifred Secondary School Students' hostels was not an isolated event. The consistent burglary issues in St. Winifred Parish, Ihugh, the repeated criminal incidents at St. Thomas Hospital, Ihugh, and the hooliganism witnessed during the time of the reopening of St. Thomas' Hospital Ihugh on 21st June, 2024, wherein, the people of Ihugh openly projected placards and chanting slogans that, 'They no longer want the Reverend Sisters to work in Ihugh'," the letter stated.

Describing the incidents as "a systemic pattern of hostility and destruction directed at Church owned properties, alongside arson and harassment," the Diocese said each attack had created fear and uncertainty among its personnel and beneficiaries.

"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," it added.

Peace efforts failed, Diocese says

The Diocese said it had made several attempts to resolve the crisis through dialogue with the host community, traditional rulers, elders and relevant civil and security authorities, but the efforts had failed to guarantee the safety of its institutions and personnel.

"The Church does not take the path of withdrawal lightly, nor in haste. The Lord instructs us to be peacemakers, and we have laboured to be so. At every stage we sought dialogue rather than confrontation, and reconciliation rather than recrimination," it stated.

It added: "The Diocese has met with the host community, engaged the traditional rulers and elders of the land, and brought these grievances before the relevant civil and security authorities, all in the hope of finding a just and lasting peace.

"We have listened, we have appealed, and we have waited patiently. Sadly, these sincere efforts have not yielded the peace, security and guarantees that the continued presence of our institutions requires."

Explaining the rationale for the closure, the Diocese declared: "The Church is a partner in development, not a victim to be repeatedly wounded. A partnership requires mutual respect, protection and good faith. When the very institutions that serve a community are burnt and their workers threatened, such a partnership cannot be sustained."

It further stated: "The Church cannot, in conscience, continue to expose her Priests, Consecrated Persons, Teachers, Medical personnel, Students and Patients to danger, nor continue to invest the resources of God's people where they are not safe and are not valued."

The Diocese stressed that the decision was not driven by bitterness or a desire for revenge.

"We do so not in anger, nor in bitterness, nor in vengeance, but in sorrow, with prayer, and with the door of reconciliation left open," it said.

Staff to be redeployed, students relocated

Under the decree, all priests, consecrated persons, catechists, pastoral workers, teachers, medical personnel and administrative staff serving in the affected institutions are to withdraw.

The Diocese said the affected workers would be redeployed or reassigned, warning that nobody would be permitted to resume duties or exercise ministry on its behalf in Ihugh without the Bishop's written authorisation.

It also directed that Church property be secured, parish registers and archives transferred to the Diocesan Archives, and sacred objects removed under the supervision of the appropriate Church authorities.

Commending its personnel for their service despite the security challenges, the Diocese stated: "We express our deepest gratitude to our Priests, Consecrated persons, Teachers, Nurses, Doctors, Catechists and staff who have served in Ihugh with courage and fidelity, often at great personal cost.

"You have been faithful servants, and the Lord who sees in secret will reward you."

The Diocese, however, assured residents that the closure would not mean abandoning those who depended on the institutions.

It said students would be assisted to continue their education in other Catholic schools, while patients, particularly those requiring urgent medical attention, would be referred to other health facilities.

It added: "Staff affected by this decision will be treated with justice and charity, in accordance with Church teaching on the dignity of labour."

Diocese leaves door open for return

The Diocese appealed to community leaders, traditional rulers, youth groups and government authorities to work towards restoring peace, stressing that it did not hold innocent residents responsible for the attacks.

"To the entire people of Ihugh, to its leaders and to its youth: we make no accusation against the innocent, and we hold no hatred in our hearts. We bear no ill will toward our brothers and sisters, many of whom have known only the good that these institutions brought," it stated.

However, it condemned the destruction of Church property, warning: "We say plainly that violence, arson and destruction are contrary to the Gospel, contrary to the dignity of the human person, and contrary to the good of the community itself.

"They impoverish the very people they claim to defend, depriving children of education, the sick of healing, and the faithful of worship."

It called on law enforcement agencies and governments at all levels to protect lives and property and ensure that those responsible for the attacks were brought to justice.

While describing the closure as painful, the Diocese insisted that it was not a permanent departure from the community.

"This decision is a painful one, but it is not a final farewell. The Church leaves in sorrow, not in contempt," it stated.

It said a return to Ihugh would be considered only when there was "genuine repentance, restitution, a firm commitment to peace, and credible lasting assurances of safety" for its personnel and property.

The decree stated that the closure would remain in force until the Bishop was satisfied that the conditions for a safe and peaceful return had been sustainably met.

Catholics urged to pray, fast

As part of efforts to seek peace and reconciliation, the Diocese called on Catholics to intensify prayers for Ihugh and other communities facing insecurity.

It directed parishes to offer Masses for peace and encouraged families to pray the Rosary.

The Diocese also declared Friday, October 23, 2026, a day of prayer and fasting for reconciliation.

"We invite all the faithful of the Diocese to a season of earnest prayer and penance for the restoration of peace in Ihugh and in all our communities," the pastoral letter stated.