Despite the peace agreement reached by 14 candidates for governor ahead of the governorship and state Houses of Assembly elections on Saturday, the Taraba Independent Peace Committee on Tuesday raised concern over threats of violence in various local government areas of the state.
At a press conference in Jalingo, Prof. Talla Ngarka, the chairman of the Taraba Independent Peace Committee, denounced attacks on the political parties’ convoys in the Takum and Wukari local government districts and urged players to follow the rules of the game.
“The committee is in receipt of the reports of attacks on the convoy of some political parties in Wukari and Takum local government areas and we are disturbed with these development, which is coming few days to 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,” he said.
The chairman declared that although the committee and the National Peace Committee’s Kukah Centre Secretariat 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.
While urging candidates to follow the rules of the game, Ngarka pointed out that Taraba State’s recently concluded presidential election was peaceful overall, with no outbreak of violence in any area of the state thanks to the National Peace Committee’s intervention and the Taraba Peace Committee’s tireless efforts.
