Taraba: Chieftaincy tussle fuelled crisis that claims 3 lives in Karim-Lamido LGA- GMCN
By Andrew Ojih, Jalingo.
The Global Methodist Church of Nigeria, (GMCN) on Thursday blamed chieftaincy tussle for the recent crisis that claimed 3 lives in Munga Dosso in Karim-Lamido Local Government Area of Taraba state.
Rev John Pena Auta, GMCN Bishop
John Pena Auta, the Bishop of the Global Methodist Church (GMCN) who stated this during a press conference in Jalingo explained that the crisis in Munga Dosso was not a religious one.
The Bishop who spoke through Rev. Simon Jatutu and Rev. Yayuba Baziel Yoila said that there have been a long time lingering chieftaincy dispute in that area, adding that people took the opportunity of the crisis between UMCN and GMCN to express their anger.
“The crisis was purely chieftaincy matters, relying on liers and taking advantage of such to achieve different aims and interests was wrong.
“The issue is not GMCN and UMCN, but it is a traditional dispute which has been pending for long, we totally debunked that insinuation that the crisis was religious.
He stressed that the call for the arrest of GMCN leaders by Rev. Micah Dopah, the leader of the United Methodist Church (UMCN) was an empty call.
“Micah Dopah has no right to call for the arrest of GMCN leaders, rather, he should be arrested.
“We are calling for the arrest of Micah Dopah for joining the Church that allows same sex marriage. If there is anybody that should be arrested, it is Micah Dopah.
“On what reason should the GMCN leaders be arrested?, let him come out with his reasons, he should be arrested for spreading lies which lead to people killing themselves.
“Micah Dopah has accepted Same sex marriage known as LGBTQ and fully part of it. John Wesley and John Pena Auta are not part of this evil, it is Dopah and his Clergymen that should be arrested” he noted.
Dopah, the Director, Connectional Ministries, United Methodist Church UMC three days ago called on security agencies to arrest GMCN leaders for causing crisis in Munga Dosso in Karim-Lamido LGA of the state.
Dopah at a press conference urged the federal and the state governments to as a matter of urgency, arrest the leaders of GMC, Bishop Jonn Pena and former Bishop John Wisley.
But, the Taraba State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, DSP, Abdullahi Usman, while reacting to the crisis said the situation came up with serious security threats which resulted to the loss of lives, several injuries and destruction of property.
Usman said at the moment, six persons have been arrested in connection with crisis, stressing that they been taking to the state Criminal Investigation Department,CID for more investigation.
