Taraba govt backs DSS over arrest of cleric
Taraba State Government Defends Arrest of Reverend Yoila
The Taraba State Government has defended the arrest of Reverend Bazel Yoila by the Department of State Services (DSS), rejecting allegations of impropriety and condemning comments perceived as inciting unrest.
In a statement released Wednesday, Barrister Zainab Usman Jalingo, the state’s Commissioner for Information and Re-Orientation, said the government felt compelled to address claims circulating in publications and on social media that the arrest was unwarranted. The government asserted that security agencies acted proactively to safeguard public peace and ensure responsible civic engagement.
The statement also criticized John Wesley, identified as Bishop Emeritus, for publicly denouncing the DSS’s actions in this matter. The government expressed concern that despite condemning the security agencies, Wesley failed to address what it described as “highly inflammatory and reckless remarks” made by Rev. Yoila in a viral video.
In the video, Yoila allegedly warned that “the state will be on fire” if the government continued its reconciliation efforts within the United Methodist Church in Nigeria (UMCN). The government characterized such statements as serious threats to public order that could not be overlooked.
Officials emphasized that the reconciliation process within UMCN was intended as a peace-building initiative, stressing that their involvement has been impartial and focused on preventing internal church disputes from escalating into broader communal tensions.
“Any attempt to derail this process through threats or inflammatory rhetoric is unacceptable and will be met with the full weight of the law,” the statement read.
The government noted that the matter has been submitted to a court of competent jurisdiction and urged all parties to refrain from actions or comments that might interfere with ongoing judicial proceedings. It reaffirmed its commitment to upholding the rule of law and respecting the independence of the judiciary.
Additionally, the state called on media organizations and commentators to verify information from credible sources before publication. It warned that sensationalized or one-sided reporting could jeopardize efforts to maintain peace within the state.
