By Emmanuel Awari-Jalingo
The Taraba State government has clarified that the arrest of Global Methodist Church of Nigeria (GMCN) pastor, Rev. Bazel Yoila, last Sunday was carried out to maintain law and order in the state.
In a press statement issued to Journalists in Jalingo, the Taraba State Commissioner for Information and Reorientation, Barr. Zainab Jalingo, said the government found it necessary to clarify the facts surrounding the incident and correct what it described as misleading impressions conveyed in the reports.
The statement reads in parts,
“The Taraba State government states unequivocally that it is appalled by the public attack launched by John Wesley, Bishop Emeritus, against the Taraba State government and the DSS Command.
The government noted that while the bishop condemned the actions of security agencies, he did not address what it described as “highly inflammatory and reckless” remarks allegedly made by Rev. Yoila in a viral video.
“The Taraba State Government has noted with concern a publication circulating on news papers and social media with related commentaries alleging impropriety in the arrest of Rev. Bazel Yoila by the Department of State Services (DSS).
“The security agencies proactively acted and in the interest of public enlightenment, peace, and responsible civic engagement, the state government considers it imperative to clarify the facts surrounding the incident and to correct misleading impressions conveyed by the said publication.
The government expressed concern over newspaper publications, including social media, alleging impropriety in the arrest of Rev. Yoila by the Department of State Services (DSS).
It stated that the security agencies acted proactively in the interest of public peace and civic responsibility.
The Taraba State Government states unequivocally that it is appalled by the public attack launched by John Wesley, Bishop Emeritus, against the Taraba State DSS Command.
“The government finds it deeply troubling that while condemning the actions of security agencies, the Bishop fell short of holding his pastor accountable for the highly inflammatory and reckless outburst captured in a video clip that has since gone viral on social media.
“In the said video, Rev. Bazel Yoila was clearly heard issuing statements capable of inciting violence and threatening a breakdown of law and order, including a direct assertion that “…the state will be on fire” should the government continue with the reconciliation process within the United Methodist Church in Nigeria (UMCN).
“Such utterances, regardless of the platform or intent claimed, constitute a serious threat to public peace and cannot be trivialized or ignored by any responsible government especially one that prioritizes Security.
The State Government reiterate that the ongoing reconciliation process within the UMCN was initiated in good faith, purely as a peace building effort, and without prejudice to any party.
“The government’s involvement has at all times been guided by neutrality, inclusiveness, and the singular objective of preventing the spillover of internal disputes into wider communal unrest. Any attempt to derail this process through threats or inflammatory rhetoric is unacceptable and will be met with the full weight of the law.
“Furthermore, the government notes that the matter is currently before a court of competent jurisdiction. As such, all parties are urged to allow the judicial process to run its full course without undue interference, or inflammatory commentary.
The Government said that it will continue to respect the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary and will not engage in commentary that may prejudice ongoing legal proceedings.
“We also call on media organizations and social commentators to adhere strictly to the ethics of journalism by verifying information from credible and official sources before publication. Sensational, one-sided, or inaccurate reporting has the potential to mislead the public and undermine the collective efforts to sustain peace in the state the statement concluded.