Taraba Peace Committee Alarmed By Threats Of Violence Ahead Of March 18 Elections

Ahead of the March 18, 2023 Governorship and state house of assembly elections, the Taraba Independent Peace Committee has expressed concern over threats of violence in the state.

The peace committee said on Tuesday that threats of violence have been reported in a number of local government areas in Taraba, despite the peace agreement that the 14 governorship candidates signed ahead of the Saturday elections.

During a press conference in Jalingo, Prof. Talla Ngarka, the leader of the Taraba Independent Peace Committee, denounced attacks on political party convoys in the Takum and Wukari local government areas and asked participants to follow the rules.

The chairman noted that though the committee and the National Peace Committee were not law enforcement organizations, they were dedicated to a peaceful society and would stop at nothing to share information with the appropriate security agencies about threats related to politicians and political parties.

Ngarka urged candidates to play by the rules while pointing out the recently concluded presidential election was generally peaceful in the state and that this was made possible by the National Peace Committee’s intervention and the diligent work of the Taraba Peace Committee.

The chairman said, “The committee receives the reports of attacks on the convoy of some political parties in Wukari and Takum local government areas and we are disturbed by this development, which is coming a few days before the election.

“There are also threats of violence in Donga, Wukari, Takum, Yorro, Gassol, and Jalingo local government areas according to reports from independent monitors working with Initiative for Community and Human Development in Taraba State.

“We want to appeal to all the governorship candidates, party chairpersons, political stakeholders, religious and traditional rulers to prevail on their supporters, followers, and subjects to give peace a chance before, during, and after the elections.”