YOLA, APOSTOLIC PREFECTURE of. - Located in the northeastern part of Nigeria and entrusted to the Hermits of S. Augustine (Irish province).
It was erected on 14 July 1950 from portions of territory detached from the apostolic prefectures of Jos and Oturkpo and from the diocese of Buea. It has an area of 64,000 sq. km., with a population of approximately 1,000,000 inhabitants, belonging to numerous tribes. Some of these, Muslim, are either of Hamitic origin (such as the Fulani tribe) or mixed origin (such as the Hausa tribe), and engage in trade or pastoralism; others, pagan, are cultivators and of semi-Bantu origin, except for those that have mingled with the Fulani. Mohammedans make up one third of the population; the other two thirds are pagans. Each tribe has its own vernacular, though akin in character to that of the others.
The apostolic prefecture initially encountered certain difficulties with the government; it now enjoys great prestige before both the British and native authorities, so much so that it has been invited to establish new missionary centres in specified places. Statistical data: Catholics, 1,627, almost all natives; catechumens, 1,779; Protestants, approximately 10,000; foreign priests, 20; foreign sisters, 3; catechists, 28; teachers, 56; principal mission stations, 7 (of which 2 in the south among the Jukon, Mumuye, and Chamba tribes, 2 in the north among the Higi, Marghi, and Fali tribes, 2 in the east among the Chamba, Verre, Koma, Bagirmi tribes and immigrants from the south, 1 in the west among the Bare, Bachama, Bata, and Shellen tribes); secondary stations, 36; churches, 2; chapels, 22; schools, 29, with 284 boys and 239 girls.