St Winifred Girls Secondary School, Ihugh, in Benue State, has quickly relocated its students to 4 Catholic faculties throughout the state following repeated fires at its hostels and concerns over their security.
In a round dated 17 October, the school’s administration mentioned the relocation adopted consultations with the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Gboko and the Director of Catholic Education Services.
The students are anticipated to renew at their new faculties on 23 October.
Under the association, Basic 7 and Senior Secondary School (SSS) 2 students will attend Queen of the Rosary Secondary School, Gboko, whereas Basic 8 and 9 students will transfer to St Mary Girls’ Secondary School, Adikpo.
SSS 1 students will attend Our Lady of Apostles Girls’ Secondary School, Vandeikya, whereas SSS 3 students will likely be positioned at Notre Dame Secondary School, Mkar.
The school mentioned the association was momentary, pending additional selections by the Church on its future, significantly in view of security concerns surrounding its location.
“We wish to reassure all parents/guardians that this arrangement is temporary,” the round mentioned.
Some educating and non-teaching workers have additionally been assigned to the receiving faculties to assist educating and studying and information the students at their momentary areas.
The administration apologised to oldsters and students for the disruption, saying it could set up communication channels to maintain households knowledgeable.
Four fires at school
The relocation follows repeated fires on the pupil hostels, which the Catholic Diocese of Gboko cited in its choice to shut Catholic establishments in Ihugh.
In a pastoral letter and decree dated 12 October, the diocese introduced the indefinite closure of St Winifred Girls Secondary School, St Winifred Nursery and Primary School, St Thomas Hospital and Salus Mudi Care Centre, in addition to St Winifred Parish.
The decree was signed by the Bishop of Gboko, William Avenya, and the diocesan chancellor, Marcellinus Wende.
The diocese mentioned the school’s pupil hostels had been burnt on 28 October 2025, 10 May 2026, 15 May 2026 and 11 October 2026.
It additionally cited repeated burglaries at St Winifred Parish and legal incidents at St Thomas Hospital, describing the incidents as a part of a sample of hostility and destruction directed at Church-owned properties.
The diocese mentioned it had engaged neighborhood leaders, conventional rulers and security authorities in efforts to resolve the state of affairs however had not obtained lasting assurances of security.
“The Church cannot, in conscience, continue to expose her Priests, Consecrated Persons, Teachers, Medical personnel, Students and Patients to danger,” the pastoral letter mentioned.
PREMIUM TIMES earlier reported that the diocese ordered the closure of the establishments and the withdrawal of its pastoral brokers from Ihugh, citing repeated assaults, arson and the absence of satisfactory security ensures.
Principal apologises to students
In a separate letter addressed to students and their dad and mom, the school’s principal, Isaac Shalegh, apologised for the repeated incidents and the disruption to the students’ schooling.
He mentioned he had repeatedly assured the students that situations would enhance after earlier fires however was devastated when one other incident occurred.
According to the principal, neighborhood stakeholders had beforehand assured the school that the incidents wouldn’t recur and that broken buildings can be reconstructed inside three months, forward of the students’ return in September 2026.
READ ALSO: Catholic Church shuts institutions in Benue community, gives reasons
He mentioned the students returned to search out that the assurances had not been fulfilled as anticipated.
The principal additionally recounted an incident on Friday, 9 October, when students reportedly seen suspicious exercise suggesting an try and set one other hostel constructing on fireplace.
He mentioned he contacted related authorities earlier than one other fireplace incident occurred on Sunday, 11 October.
Describing the most recent incident because the fourth fireplace, Mr Shalegh mentioned he watched students flee the school in misery and journey residence with out satisfactory preparation, with some arriving as late as 11 p.m.
“I can no longer promise you the safety of remaining in this community under the present circumstances,” he wrote.
He apologised to the students and their dad and mom, saying he had not supposed to mislead them or give them false hope.
“I am writing because you deserve to know how deeply this situation has affected me and how sincerely I regret the pain you have endured,” he mentioned.
The principal added that he had tried to guard and assist the students however might not assure their security underneath the prevailing circumstances.
The school has not introduced when students would possibly return to Ihugh. Its administration mentioned the momentary placement would stay in impact pending additional selections by the Church.
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