Shomo, Jole Crisis Is A Supremacy War, Commission of Inquiry Tells Taraba Governmenton October 05, 2020

 The Commission of Inquiry set up by the Taraba State Government to probe the crisis between Shomo and Jole communities in Lau Local Council has submitted its report.

Chairman of the commission, Justice Silas Haruna said that the immediate cause of the prolonged conflict was not only a contest over ownership of a fish pond but that of a long history of struggle against supremacy.

Haruna said the latest of the attacks on Shomo by the Jole people was provoked by negative remarks. According to the Commission findings, the Jole people accused the Shomos of referring to them as outcasts.

Conflicts had broken out between the two communities over a disputed fish pond resulting in the death of dozens with property worth millions of naira destroyed.

The agrarian communities of Shomo and Jole in Lau local government have been at war path for a decade. While previous administrations were unable to stop the unnecessary killings and wanton destruction of lives and property. This however prompted the Commission of Inquiry by the Ishaku Administration, led by Justice Silas Haruna.

The Commission in its findings disclosed that among other causes of the crises was a supremacy war between the two tribes. In its effort to deescalate the highly militarized communities, the Commission confiscated some AK- 47 rifles.