A group of monarchs from the Jechira Intermediate Area Traditional Council in Benue State has condemned the burning of St. Winifred Girls Secondary School, Ihugh, for four consecutive times by suspected hoodlums.
The council also tendered an unreserved apology to the Bishop of Gboko Diocese, His Lordship Most Rev. Williams Avenya, over the barbaric act and pleaded with him to reopen Catholic institutions closed down in the area.
The resolutions were contained in a communique issued at the end of an emergency expanded stakeholder meeting, held October 20, at the Jechira Traditional Council Hall, Uganden Village, Vandeikya.
The meeting, presided over by HRH Engr. Edward Ujege,Tor Jechira and Chairman, Jechira Intermediate Area Traditional Council, had in attendance the Jechira Intermediate Area Traditional Council, honorific chieftaincy title holders, Jechira Development Association, JEDA, Kunav United Development Association, KUDA, Ikyor Development Association, IKYODA, Gyaikyor Self Development Association, GYASDA, Shangev Tiev Development Association, SHADA, Chairmen of Vandeikya and Konshisha Local Government Councils, DPO Vandeikya, and other prominent sons and daughters of Jechira, including Chief Edward Ashiekaa, SAN, James Aondoakaa Iorpuu, and several reverend fathers.
According to the communique released at the weekend and signed by HRH’s Edward Ujege, Nyiyongo Achiaku, Ter Kunav; Emmanuel Akpoghol, Ter Ikyor; and Stephen Suega, chief press and private secretary to Tor Jechira, the council immensely appreciated Bishop Avenya for establishing, sustaining and upgrading several quality educational and health institutions in Vandeikya, particularly St. Winifred Catholic Church, St. Winifred Girls Secondary School, St. Winifred Nursery and Primary School, St. Thomas Hospital, Ihugh, and Bishop Usuh University, Vandeikya.
The council, which resolved not to take the kind gesture offered them by the Gboko Diocese for granted henceforth, vehemently condemned in strong terms the barbaric, inhumane and uncivilized behavior exhibited by certain misguided elements who burnt down St. Winifred Girls Secondary School up to four consecutive times.
It sincerely apologized to the Bishop for the unwarranted and unprovoked attack on the institutions and appreciated his action of closing down all the Catholic institutions in Ihugh to save students, staff and pastoral agents from further attacks.
The council equally directed immediate prosecution of four persons, namely Orshi Gbanger Samo, John Chia, Tordue Chia, and Iorapuu Iorliam, identified as culprits and mandated the Chairman of Vandeikya Local Government Council to take the suspects to a competent court of law for prosecution.
It also directed the president-general of Mbadede Development Association to direct all sons and daughters of Mbadede, who have taken the Bishop and the Catholic Church to court, to withdraw such cases with immediate effect.
The council further resolved to increase security personnel at the school to ensure 24-hour surveillance and to build a perimeter fence at the back of the school.
It also resolved to set up a fundraising committee to raise money from sons, daughters, wives, stakeholders, associations and friends of Jechira Nation to renovate the burnt school.
The monarchs cautioned host communities of schools, hospitals and other Catholic facilities within Jechira land to desist from putting pressure on and making unnecessary demands such as scholarships, free medical services and burial support from Gboko Diocese, the owner of those institutions.
They also resolved to issue an executive order prohibiting land merchants from selling lands and later returning to demand more money either by themselves, through their children, descendants or relations, calling on sons and daughters in the local and state legislative assemblies to enact a by-law to curb the practice.
“The council therefore placed a curse on whoever violates this long-standing traditional practice and order,” the communique read in part.
The meeting equally resolved to set up a high-powered delegation to visit the Bishop to brief him on the outcome of the deliberations and condole with him and the entire Catholic community of Gboko Diocese.
The traditional rulers pleaded with Bishop Avenya to give the affected community a second chance and to, for the time being, reopen the church, hospital and schools to enable members of the community resume effective worship and receive health services while allowing innocent students to continue their studies.
