Kaduna Catholic Archdiocese blames Seminary fire on insecurity

•N100 million needed to rehabilitate facility
The Catholic Archdiocese of Kaduna has blamed the fire incident that damaged its facilities in Katari, Kaduna, on insecurity and bad governance.

The rector, Saint. Peters Minor Seminary, Katari, Kaduna Rev. Fr. Sati Edward stated this during an inspection at the site yesterday. He said the school relocated her Students to Kafanchan and Zaria for over two years now because of the security challenges.

Edward explained that the incident would not have occurred if the students were in the hostel, adding that the school management deemed it necessary to relocate the students, same way residents are seeking refuge in towns, deserting their homes because of banditry attacks.

The Nigeria Catholic Network had reported the incident through a statement signed by its Archdiocesan Chancellor, Rev. Fr. Christian Emmanuel. He disclosed that two dormitories, a dining hall, a kitchen, and a laboratory were razed at the Seminary.

Sati said: “no life was lost, but for naira and Kobo we can only postulate. In Nigeria now, to put up a building like this alongside the equipment will cost you more than N100 million.”
While the cause of incidence could not be ascertained, the priest noted that there was a burning bush behind the fence, which could have crept into the facility due to the harmattan haze.

Also, John Woje, who is the Education Secretary, Catholic Archdiocese of Kaduna, lamented that they have been able to save the lives of their children from being kidnapped by bandits but could not save themselves from the unforseen circumstances within the Seminary.
He stressed that it would require a lot of money to bring back the facilities to it’s functional state, while appealing to organisations and well meaning Nigerians to come to their aid.

Woje disclosed that the properties are insured, as the church officials have come to inspect the level of damage after which the Archdiocese will contact the insurance company to come down and carry out their own inspections.

In his remarks, the head of delegation and Director of Social Communication, Kaduna Archdiocese, Rev. Fr. Stephen Onyeama said a lot of laboratory equipments were burnt down alongside hostel beds, matrasses, fans and other properties.