The four Church-owned institutions in Ihugh, Vandeikya Local Government Area of Benue State have been ordered closed indefinitely by the Catholic Diocese of Gboko. This decision follows a series of attacks, arson, and other alleged acts of hostility against the facilities.
Bishop William A. Avenya has issued a decree that calls for the expulsion of all pastoral workers, including priests and consecrated individuals, from the community until there is a sustainable peace and credible security guarantees in place.
In a pastoral letter and order signed by the Diocesan Chancellor, Rev. Fr. Marcellinus Wende, the bishop announced the closure, which went into force on October 12, 2026.
In Ihugh, the places that have been impacted include St. Winifred Parish, St. Thomas Hospital (which includes Salus Mind Care Center and the hospital chaplaincy), St. Winifred Secondary School, St. Winifred Nursery and Primary School, and St. Thomas Hospital.
A number of security issues, according to the Diocese, had endangered the lives of many people, including students, instructors, medical staff, priests, and others.
St. Winifred Secondary School student dorms were set ablaze on three separate occasions: October 28, 2025, May 10, and October 11, 2026.
The order also detailed several instances of criminal activity at St. Thomas Hospital and recurring burglaries at St. Winifred Parish.
It went on to describe an incident that happened on June 21, 2024, when the Reverend Sisters were allegedly asked to leave the location by members of the Ihugh community who had brought placards and shouted slogans during the reopening of St. Thomas Hospital.
Bishop Avenya said the events were part of a pattern of animosity and devastation against Church-owned sites, and that they had been responsible for the destruction of property and the loss of life and limb of the people who depend on these places of worship.
Several efforts had been made by the Diocese to engage community leaders, traditional rulers, elders, government officials, and security authorities in discussion and reconciliation in an effort to peacefully address the problems, he said.
But he argued that all that work hadn’t yielded the kind of stability that the institutions needed to keep running smoothly.
No longer could the Church put its employees and beneficiaries in harm’s way or put money into places where people’s lives and possessions were not secure, per the order.
The order states that all priests now functioning in the roles of parish priest, assistant priest, chaplain, principal, administrator, or other similar position in Ihugh are to resign from their positions.
This also has an impact on the consecrated, catechumens, pastoral staff, and lay missionaries that the Diocese sends out.
The relevant diocesan departments are to be contacted in order to redeploy or reassign all employees of the Diocese, including teaching and non-teaching staff, medical professionals, and administrative staff.
No one may resume their previous roles within the Diocese of Ihugh or serve in a ministry capacity on its behalf without the bishop’s written permission, according to the order.
Additionally, it mandates the protection of diocesan property, the transfer of parish records and archives to the Diocesan Archives, and the removal to secure locations of the Blessed Sacrament, sacred vessels, and other sacred items, with the oversight of the Vicar General and the Diocesan Chancery.
Even though the school will be closed, the Diocese has promised to lessen the blow to pupils, patients, and employees.
St. Winifred Secondary School and St. Winifred Nursery and Primary School pupils will be helped, to the best of our abilities, to transfer to other Catholic schools in the Diocese for their further study.
The head of Catholic education services is anticipated to provide more details soon.
Patients who need immediate medical attention will be sent away from St. Thomas Hospital and toward alternative healthcare institutions.
In keeping with Church teaching on the dignity of labour, the Diocese further promised the impacted workers that their welfare would be handled with fairness and compassion.
Those guilty for the attacks must be held accountable, and the people of Ihugh, along with community and youth leaders, traditional rulers, government officials, and security agencies, must strive to restore peace, according to Bishop Avenya.
He was adamant that the Diocese had no ill intent toward innocent community members and that the decision was not motivated by hatred or vengeance.
But he cautioned that acts of violence, arson, and property destruction hampered the common good by cutting off the education of children, the healthcare of the sick, and the devotion of the devout.