The Catholic Diocese of Gboko in Benue State has suspended activities at several church-owned institutions in Ihugh, Vandeikya Local Government Area, following repeated attacks, arson, burglaries, and alleged harassment of its personnel.
The suspension, which took effect on October 12, 2026, will remain in force until further notice, with the Diocese ordering the immediate withdrawal of priests, Reverend Sisters, teachers, medical workers, and other staff from the affected institutions.
Ihugh is the hometown of Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia.
The affected facilities are St Winifred Secondary School, St Winifred Nursery and Primary School, St Thomas Hospital, Salus Mind Care Centre and its chaplaincy, as well as St Winifred Parish.
The decision was announced 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.
According to the Diocese, the decision followed a series of attacks on its properties, including the repeated burning of students’ hostels at St Winifred Secondary School on October 28, 2025, May 10, May 15, and October 11, 2026.
The Diocese said the incidents destroyed facilities built over several years and exposed students, teachers, and other workers to serious safety risks.
“Among these were the recent burning down of the students’ hostels of St Winifred Secondary School, Ihugh, on October 28th, 2025; May 10th, 2026; May 15th, 2026; and October 11th, 2026,” the letter stated.
It added that the attacks had destroyed the accommodation provided for students and placed their lives, alongside those of school personnel, in grave danger.
The Diocese also cited persistent burglaries at St Winifred Parish and repeated criminal incidents at St Thomas Hospital as part of the reasons behind the suspension.
It further recalled alleged hostility towards the Reverend Sisters during the reopening of St Thomas Hospital on June 21, 2024, when some residents reportedly displayed placards and chanted slogans demanding that the sisters leave Ihugh.
Describing the incidents as a pattern of hostility towards its institutions, the Diocese said the attacks had created an atmosphere of fear and uncertainty among its personnel and the people they served.
“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 statement added.
The Diocese said it had made several attempts to resolve the situation through dialogue, including engagements with the host community, traditional rulers, community elders, and relevant civil and security authorities.
However, it said those efforts had failed to produce the peace and security assurances required for the continued operation of the institutions.
“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,” the letter stated.
Explaining the decision, the Diocese said it could no longer expose its personnel and beneficiaries to repeated security threats while continuing to invest church resources in facilities that were not adequately protected.
It stressed that the suspension was not an act of revenge or hostility towards the people of Ihugh but a measure taken to safeguard lives and property.
“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,” it stated.
The Diocese directed all pastoral and other personnel to leave the affected institutions and warned that no one would be permitted to resume duties on its behalf in Ihugh without the bishop’s written authorisation.
To minimise the impact on beneficiaries, it said arrangements would be made for students to continue their education in other Catholic schools, while patients receiving care at St Thomas Hospital would be referred to alternative health facilities.
It also assured affected employees that their welfare would be handled fairly, in line with the Church’s position on the dignity of labour.
“Staff affected by this decision will be treated with justice and charity, in accordance with Church teaching on the dignity of labour,” the statement said.
The Diocese expressed appreciation to priests, Reverend Sisters, teachers, doctors, nurses, catechists, and other workers who had served in Ihugh despite the challenges.
It also appealed to community leaders, traditional rulers, youths, and government authorities to work towards restoring peace, insisting that it did not hold the entire community responsible for the incidents.
“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,” the letter stated.
Nevertheless, it condemned arson, violence, and destruction, warning that such acts deprived residents of essential services, including education, healthcare, and religious worship.
The Diocese called on security agencies and governments at all levels to take necessary steps to protect lives and property and ensure that those responsible for the attacks were brought to justice.
It maintained that the suspension did not amount to a permanent withdrawal from Ihugh, saying it would consider reopening the institutions if there was genuine repentance, restitution, a firm commitment to peace, and credible guarantees of lasting security.
“This decision is a painful one, but it is not a final farewell. The Church leaves in sorrow, not in contempt,” it said.
As part of efforts to seek reconciliation, the Diocese declared Friday, October 23, 2026, a day of prayer and fasting, urging Catholics to pray for peace in Ihugh and other communities.
When contacted, Bishop Avenya confirmed the suspension, describing it as a response to the incidents involving the Church’s institutions.
“It is the suspension of activities over the things that happened,” he said.
