The Taraba State Government has explained that the recent arrest of Global Methodist Church cleric, Rev. Bazel Yoila, was carried out strictly to maintain law and order in the state.
The government made this clarification following widespread reports and social media commentaries alleging misconduct in the arrest carried out by the Department of State Services.
In a statement issued on Wednesday in Jalingo, the Commissioner for Information and Reorientation, Zainab Jalingo, said the government found it necessary to set the record straight and address what it described as misleading narratives surrounding the incident.
She stressed that security agencies acted proactively in the interest of public safety, peace, and responsible civic engagement.
According to the statement, the government expressed deep concern over what it described as unfair attacks by John Wesley, Bishop Emeritus, against the state and the DSS.
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“The Taraba State Government states unequivocally that it is appalled by the public attack launched by John Wesley, Bishop Emeritus, against the Taraba State and the DSS Command. The government finds it deeply troubling that while condemning the actions of security agencies, the Bishop fell short of holding his pastor, Bazel Yoila, accountable for the highly inflammatory and reckless outburst captured in a video clip that has since gone viral on social media.”
The commissioner noted that in the viral video, Rev. Yoila was allegedly heard making statements that could provoke unrest.
“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.”
She added, “Such utterances, regardless of the platform or intent claimed, constitute a serious threat to public peace and cannot be trivialised or ignored by any responsible government, especially one that prioritises security.”
The government further clarified that its involvement in the reconciliation process within the United Methodist Church in Nigeria was initiated in good faith.
It stated that the exercise was aimed solely at fostering peace and preventing internal disputes from escalating into wider communal conflicts.
“The Taraba State Government wishes to 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 statement emphasised that the process was guided by neutrality, inclusiveness, and the desire to maintain stability across the state.
“Any attempt to derail this process through threats or inflammatory rhetoric is unacceptable and will be met with the full weight of the law.”
Barr. Jalingo disclosed that the case is currently before a competent court, urging all parties to exercise restraint.
“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.”
She added, “The Taraba State Government 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.”
The commissioner also appealed to media organizations and commentators to uphold professional ethics.
“The state government also calls on media organizations and social commentators to adhere strictly to the ethics of journalism by verifying information from credible and official sources before publication.”
She warned that sensational and inaccurate reporting could mislead the public and undermine efforts to sustain peace in the state.
“Sensational, one-sided, or inaccurate reporting has the potential to mislead the public and undermine the collective efforts to sustain peace in the state.”
