The Catholic Diocese of Gboko, Benue state, has ordered the temporary closure of its institutions in Ihugh, a community in the Vandeikya LGA over “repeated attacks”.
The directive was contained in a statement signed by William
Avenya, bishop of the diocese, and Marcellinus Wende, its chancellor, on
Tuesday.
Ihugh is the hometown of Hyacinth Alia, governor of Benue,
who reportedly served as a Catholic priest under the diocese before his entry
into politics.
The affected institutions are St Winifred Girls Secondary
School, St Thomas Hospital, St Winifred Nursery and Primary School, and St
Winifred Parish, all in Ihugh.
The directive also ordered the withdrawal of pastoral agents
from the community.
The statement, titled “On the Temporary Closure of Catholic
Institutions and the Withdrawal of Pastoral Agents from Ihugh”, said the
decision followed repeated attacks on Catholic institutions in the community
since 2024.
“Over a considerable period, the Catholic institutions in
Ihugh have suffered repeated disturbances, attacks and acts of destruction,”
the statement reads, according to The Punch.
The diocese said students’ hostels at St Winifred Secondary
School were burnt down on October 28, 2025, May 10 and 15, 2026, and October
11, 2026, putting the lives and safety of students, teachers and other staff at
risk.
The church also cited repeated burglaries at St Winifred
Parish, “criminal incidents at St Thomas Hospital and protests against the
continued presence of reverend sisters in Ihugh” during the hospital’s
reopening on June 21, 2024.
The diocese described the incidents as a pattern of
hostility towards church-owned properties, adding that they had caused fear,
losses and uncertainty among church workers and beneficiaries.
The church said it had engaged the host community,
traditional rulers and elders, as well as relevant civil and security
authorities, before deciding to shut the institutions.
“Sadly, these sincere efforts have not yielded the peace,
security and guarantees that the continued presence of our institutions
requires,” the statement said.
“We have done all that depends on us. The attacks have
continued, and no assurance of lasting safety has been secured.”
The diocese said pupils and students of the affected schools
would be assisted to continue their education at other Catholic schools within
the diocese.
The statement added that patients of St Thomas Hospital
would be referred to other health facilities, with arrangements to protect
those requiring urgent medical attention.
“Staff affected by this decision will be treated with
justice and charity, in accordance with Church teaching on the dignity of
labour,” the statement added.
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