Tarabans, Rtd Bishop, Others Condemned DSS Arrest Of GMC Pastor 

ByAndrew Ojih, Jalingo 

Tarabans and retired Bishop emeritus of the Global Methodist Church of Nigeria (GMCN) Bishop. John Wesley on Tuesday condemned the mode which the Department of Security Service (DSS) conducted arrest of Rev. Bazel Yoila at his residence in Jalingo, Taraba state capital in the early hours Sunday.

Some residents of Jalingo who spoke to journalists said the pastor who has been a well known figure in Taraba state and beyond should treated like a citizen of Nigeria.

They lamented that the manner which the DSS carried the arrest of a known man of God was unprofessional.

The DSS arrested Yoila last Sunday at about 2:23 am at his residence, residents within Yoila house said the arrest was scary as the operatives gained entrance into Yoila’s house through the perimeter fence.

Also speaking over the arrest, family members of Rev. Yoila said the DSS came to house through the perimeter fence, broke the windows, gained entrance and forcefully arrested their father at gun point.

The wife of Rev. Yoila while speaking with journalists in her house faulted the DSS operation, stating that the operation sent the family into trumer while her children are still leaving in fears since the arrest last Sunday.

“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.

The wife further disclosed that the gunmen later identified themselves as operatives from the DSS. 

The DSS have since arraigned Rev. Yoila at a Jalingo Magistrate court on Monday where he (Bazel Yoila) was sent to remind in a Jalingo Correctional Center.

Cancel to Yoila Bar. LT Ayuba said the presiding Judge rejected application of bail, stating that the judge said the charges against Yoila are to be scrutinize before ruling on the bail condition.

Our correspondent gathered that Rev. Yoila’s arrest was not unconnected to the wrangling crisis between United Methodist Church of Nigeria UMCN and the Global Methodist Church of Nigeria GMCN.

Yoila recently conducted a press conference in Jalingo where he express dissatisfaction over the Taraba state handling of the crisis.

He also during the press conference accused some prominent Taraba state government officials of taking money to take side with UMCN.