Rev. Bazel Yoila
Retired Bishop of the Global Methodist Church of Nigeria (GMCN), Rev. John Wesley, has condemned the manner in which operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) arrested Rev. Bazel Yoila at his residence in Jalingo, Taraba State, in the early hours of Sunday.
Wesley said the pastor, who is widely known in Taraba State and beyond, deserved to be treated with dignity as a citizen.
He described the operation as unprofessional, stressing that the arrest of a respected man of God should have followed due process and civility.
NATIONAL ACCORD reports that residents around Yoila’s residence disclosed that the DSS operatives stormed the area at about 2:23 a.m., scaling the perimeter fence to gain entry into the house.
They described the operation as frightening, noting that it threw the neighbourhood into panic.
Family members also recounted the incident, alleging that the operatives broke windows, entered the house forcefully, and arrested their father at gunpoint.
Speaking to journalists at her residence, the wife of Rev. Yoila faulted the operation, saying it traumatized the family and left their children living in fear.
“We were sleeping, at about 2:30 am on Sunday, we head our Dog barking, when my husband stood up, he told me there are kidnappers coming into our house through the fence, all of us in the house became afraid, my children were screaming, the people came with guns, broke our windows and forcefully took my husband away.”
She further disclosed that the armed men later identified themselves as operatives of the DSS.
Meanwhile, Rev. Yoila was arraigned on Monday before a Magistrate Court in Jalingo and subsequently remanded at the Jalingo Correctional Centre. Counsel to Yoila, Lt. Ayuba, said the presiding magistrate declined his bail application, noting that the court insisted on scrutinising the charges before ruling on the matter.
Investigations by NATIONAL ACCORD correspondent revealed that Yoila’s arrest may be linked to the ongoing crisis between the United Methodist Church of Nigeria (UMCN) and the Global Methodist Church of Nigeria. It was gathered that the cleric recently held a press conference in Jalingo, where he expressed dissatisfaction with the Taraba State Government’s handling of the dispute.
During the briefing, Yoila reportedly accused some prominent state government officials of collecting money to take sides with the UMCN, allegations that have continued to generate reactions within religious and political circles in the state.
