Commissioner Decries Incessant Fire Outbreaks In Benue School

Benue State commissioner for education and knowledge management, Dr Margaret Adamu, has expressed shock over the fire outbreak in St. Winifred Girls’ Secondary School, Ihugh.

She lamented the incessant fire outbreaks when she visited St. Winifred Girls Secondary School, Ihugh to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the incident.

The commissioner while describing the incident as worrisome, said the state government had received the report and would come up with an action plan soon.

The commissioner who was conducted round the affected hostels by the principal of the school, Rev. Fr. Shalegh Isaac thanked God that no life was lost in the incident and commended the Catholic diocese of Gboko led by His Lordship Most Revd William Avenya for the prompt intervention.

In a statement issued by the ministry’s head of information, Dooshima Abuul, the commissioner applauded the role played by management to accommodate the affected students at Queen of the Rosary Secondary School, Gboko and other schools to enable them continue their education.

Adamu however called on the host communities and other stakeholders to ensure school safety in their various communities to prevent future occurrence across all institutions.

She appealed to the host community, philanthropist and well meaning Nigerians to assist St. Winfred Girls’ Secondary School in this difficult moment and prayed God’s intervention and direction.

Earlier, the principal St. Winifred Girls Secondary School, Ihugh, Rev.Fr. Shalegh Isaac, lamented the fire incident which occurred three times, “with two students hostel burnt on the 12th may, 2026, barely three days later,On the 15th May, 2026 the second hostel was engulfed by fire and burnt beyond recognition while the school library earlier occurred on the 28th October, 2025”