Sylvanus Viashima, Jalingo
Civil society group, Taraba Volunteer Group (TVG), yesterday, raised the alarm over alleged deployment of three thousand ‘fake’ soldiers to disrupt Saturday’s presidential and National Assembly elections in Taraba State, by the All Progressives Congress (APC) led federal government.
The state coordinator of the group, Mr Joseph Terence, who made the disclosure at a press briefing, in Jalingo, alleged that the same set of soldiers had earlier taken over major check points in the state, prior to the postponed election last Saturday.
Terence said the deployment was a follow up to threats earlier made by the national leadership of the APC to take over Taraba State from the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) at all costs, and in line with the directives of the president, that soldiers should deal ruthlessly with ballot box snatchers during the forthcoming elections.
“As a civil society group, we are concerned with the conduct of a free, fair, peaceful and credible polls, but we regret to state that the chances of achieving this in the forthcoming election in Taraba State are at grave risk.