The retired Bishop of the Global Methodist Church of Nigeria (GMCN), Rev. John Wesley, on Tuesday condemned the alleged manner in which Rev. Bazel Yoila was arrested at his residence in Jalingo, the Taraba State capital, in the early hours of Sunday.
Wesley alleged that operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) carried out the arrest, describing the operation as “unprofessional.” He maintained that Rev. Yoila deserved to be treated with dignity as a Nigerian citizen.
Residents living near the cleric’s home supported Wesley’s position, claiming that DSS operatives stormed the premises at about 2:23 am, allegedly gaining access through the perimeter fence.
Family members of Rev. Yoila also alleged that the operatives broke windows and forcefully entered the house at gunpoint before taking him away.
Speaking with journalists at the family residence in Jalingo, Mrs Yoila narrated the incident, saying the experience left the family traumatised.
“We were asleep around 2:30 am when we heard our dog barking. My husband got up and said it seemed like kidnappers were entering through the fence. We were terrified. The children were screaming. The men came with guns, broke our windows, and forcefully took my husband away,” she said.
She added that the armed men later identified themselves as DSS operatives.
Rev. Yoila was subsequently arraigned on Monday before a Magistrate Court in Jalingo. The court ordered that he be remanded at the Jalingo Correctional Centre pending further proceedings.
His counsel, Barrister L.T. Ayuba, disclosed that the court declined an oral application for bail, stating that the charges would first be reviewed before ruling on bail conditions.
Sources indicated that the arrest may be linked to the ongoing crisis between the United Methodist Church of Nigeria (UMCN) and the Global Methodist Church of Nigeria (GMCN).
Rev. Yoila had recently addressed a press conference in Jalingo, where he expressed dissatisfaction with the Taraba State Government’s handling of the dispute.
During the briefing, he reportedly accused some prominent state government officials of accepting inducements to support one side in the church crisis.
As of the time of filing this report, the DSS had yet to issue an official statement regarding the circumstances surrounding the arrest.
Retired bishop condemns ‘unprofessional’ DSS arrest of cleric in Taraba
