Shomo/Jole Crisis: Community Wants Taraba Govt. To Set-up Judicial Commission of Inquiry
BY AMEH IDUJAGI, JALINGO – Following the recent clashes between Shomoh and Jole communities in Lau Local Government Area of Taraba State that led to the death of about 25 persons and destruction of property worth millions of naira, the Jole Community Development Association has called on the state Government to set up a Judicial Panel of inquiry to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incessant crisis between the warring parties.
Spokesman of the Jole Manga community, Mr Luka Audu, who made the call while addressing journalists in Jalingo on Tuesday, said that this is one of the best ways of finding a lasting solution between the two ethnic groups.
Audu noted that previous committees set up by past governments in the state failed to yield meaningful result, thereby allowing the hostilities to continue to fester.
He described as unfortunate the continued contest for the ownership of the Marima Lake by the Shomoh people which he noted has been an “incontestable” property of the Jole people all through recorded history adding that successive governments in the state have not shown enough political will to put the records straight and put an end to the crisis.
According to him; “There were several court cases between Jole and Shomo ethnic groups over the ownership of the fish pond. All the cases were decided in favour of Jole tribe.
“I think the judicial commission of inquiry will be the appropriate body to investigate and come out with their findings with the view to determining which of the ethnic group owns the fish pond.”
Audu also described the recent attack on the Shomoh communities as unfortunate but denied alleged involvement of the Jole people in the attack, saying that the Shomoh people have made enemies, and fought with most of their neighbors, adding that the attack could have come from any or a combination of many aggrieved sources.
In the words of Audu; “While we regret the recent unfortunate attack on the Shomoh people, we find it appalling that everyone is accusing the Jole people of carrying out the attack, forgetting that we have been displaced for several years now with all our villages completely destroyed by the Shomoh Militia. Is it in this sorry state that we orchestrated such an attack?
“We call on the state government to set up a judicial panel of inquiry to ascertain the true ownership of the Marima lake that has been the cause of these hostilities and whoever is found to be the true owners should be handed over their rights. That is the only way to resolve this crisis.
“Justice has to be served objectively. We have a lot of court judgements in our favour restraining the Shomoh people from the lake but they have total disregard for the courts and continue to attack us and invade our lake and farmlands”.
Our correspondent recalled that a recent attack on the Shomoh people led to the death of several persons and massive destruction of property, attracting widespread condemnation including from the Presidency.
