The Catholic Diocese of Gboko has ordered the immediate closure of its institutions in Ihugh community in the Vandeikya Local Government Area of Benue State.
The institutions affected include St Winifred Girls Secondary School, Ihugh; St Thomas Hospital, Ihugh; St Winifred Nursery and Primary School, Ihugh; and St Winifred Parish, Ihugh.
The directive also ordered the withdrawal of pastoral agents from the community.
Ihugh is the hometown of the state governor, Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia, who, before his suspension in 2023 following his interest in contesting the governorship of the state, was a Catholic priest under the Gboko Diocese.
The letter conveying the directive was signed by the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Gboko, Most Rev William A. Avenya, and the diocesan chancellor, Rev Fr Marcellinus Wende and made available to PUNCH Online on Tuesday.
Titled “On the Temporary Closure of Catholic Institutions and the Withdrawal of Pastoral Agents from Ihugh,” the letter said the diocese’s decision followed repeated attacks on Catholic institutions in the community since 2024.
Parts of the letter read, “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 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’.
“These acts are identified as part of a systemic pattern of hostility and destruction directed at Church-owned properties, alongside arson and harassment. Each incident has left behind fear, loss and uncertainty among those who serve and are served by the Church.”
The diocese said that before arriving at the decision, it had met with the host community, engaged traditional rulers and elders, and presented the grievances to the relevant civil and security authorities.
“Sadly, these sincere efforts have not yielded the peace, security and guarantees that the continued presence of our institutions requires.
“We have done all that depends on us. The attacks have continued, and no assurance of lasting safety has been secured,” the letter further read.
As an alternative, the diocese said pupils and students of the primary and secondary schools would be assisted to continue their education in other Catholic schools within the diocese.
It also added that patients of St Thomas Hospital would be properly referred to and handed over to other health facilities, with every care taken to protect those requiring urgent attention.
“Staff affected by this decision will be treated with justice and charity, in accordance with Church teaching on the dignity of labour,” the letter concluded.
When contacted by telephone on Tuesday, Avenya, confirmed the letter, saying, “Yes, we have suspended activities there.”