Benue: Catholic Diocese Withdraws Priests, Teachers, Medical Workers From Ihugh Over Attacks

The Catholic Diocese of Gboko has ordered the closure of its schools, hospital and other institutions in Ihugh, Vandeikya Local Government Area of Benue State, following repeated incidents of arson, burglary, attacks and alleged harassment of Church personnel.

The directive, which took effect on October 12, 2026, also mandates the withdrawal of priests, Reverend Sisters, teachers, healthcare workers and other staff from the affected facilities until further notice.

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

Ihugh, where the institutions are located, is the hometown of Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia.

The Bishop of the Diocese, Most Rev. William Avenya, and the Diocesan Chancellor, Rev. Fr. Marcellinus Wende, announced the decision in a pastoral letter and decree detailing the incidents that prompted the suspension.

The Diocese identified repeated attacks on St Winifred Secondary School as a major reason for the decision, citing the burning of students’ hostels on October 28, 2025, May 10, May 15 and October 11, 2026.

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

It added that the attacks had destroyed accommodation provided for students and put the lives of students, teachers and other staff members at risk.

“Among these were the recent burning down of the students’ hostels of St Winifred Secondary School, Hugh, on 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 letter stated.

Beyond the school attacks, the Diocese reported persistent burglaries at St Winifred Parish and repeated criminal incidents at St Thomas Hospital.

It also recalled an incident during the reopening of St Thomas Hospital on June 21, 2024, when some residents allegedly protested against the presence of the Reverend Sisters.

According to the letter, residents displayed placards and chanted slogans indicating that they no longer wanted the Sisters working in 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 Diocese said.

It described the incidents as “a systemic pattern of hostility and destruction directed at church-owned properties, alongside arson and harassment.”

The Diocese added that the incidents had generated fear, financial losses and uncertainty among Church workers and the people who depended on the institutions.

Lamenting that its facilities, which were established to serve people regardless of their religious or ethnic backgrounds, had become targets, the Diocese stated:

“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 Church authority said it had attempted to resolve the crisis through peaceful engagement with community representatives, traditional rulers, elders and relevant security agencies.

However, it maintained that those efforts had failed to produce the level of security required for the continued operation of the institutions.

“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.

“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,” it said.

Defending the decision to suspend operations, the Diocese said it could not continue to expose its personnel and beneficiaries to danger while investing resources in facilities that were repeatedly attacked.

“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.

“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 letter stated.

The Diocese insisted that its decision was driven by concern for safety rather than anger or a desire for retaliation.

“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.

Under the directive, all priests, religious personnel and other workers were to withdraw from the affected institutions. The Diocese also warned that nobody would be permitted to perform duties on its behalf in Ihugh without the Bishop’s written approval.

To reduce the disruption caused by the closures, the Diocese said arrangements would be made for students to continue their education at other Catholic schools, while patients at St Thomas Hospital would be directed to alternative healthcare facilities.

The Church also commended its personnel for continuing to serve despite the reported security challenges.

“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,” it stated.

It further assured affected workers that they would be treated fairly in line with Church principles on labour and human dignity.

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

While appealing for peace, the Diocese said it did not hold the entire Ihugh 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. We bear no ill will toward our brothers and sisters, many of whom have known only the good that these institutions brought,” it stated.

Nevertheless, it condemned the violence and destruction, arguing that the attacks would ultimately harm residents by depriving them of access to education, healthcare and religious services.

“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.”

The Diocese called on security agencies and all levels of government to take measures to safeguard lives and property and prosecute those responsible.

It also emphasised that the suspension did not amount to a permanent withdrawal from the community.

“This decision is a painful one, but it is not a final farewell. The Church leaves in sorrow, not in contempt,” the letter said.

The Diocese explained that its return would depend on “genuine repentance, restitution, a firm commitment to peace, and credible lasting assurances of safety” for its workers and properties.

In a further appeal for reconciliation, it declared Friday, October 23, 2026, a day of prayer and fasting for peace in Ihugh and other communities within the Diocese.

“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 letter stated.

Confirming the decision when contacted, Bishop Avenya said: “It is the suspension of activities over the things that happened.”

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