Communal clashes: A community calls for commission of inquiry as means of solution to permanent peace.

Communal clashes: A community calls for commission of inquiry as means of solution to permanent peace.

Emmanuel Awari-Jalingo

In their efforts towards finding lasting solution to permanent peace in the community, the Chamba people in Bisaula community of Kurmi Local Government Area of Taraba State on Wednesday called on the Taraba State government to set up a Commission of Inquiry into the crisis between Ichen and Chamba people in Bisaula.

The Mai-Angwa, Chamba- Bisaula, Mallam Bala Kukwa, made the call in a press statement he personally signed and made available to journalists in Jalingo.

He disclose that such a commission would unravel both the remote and immediate causes of the unrest in order to pave way for the restoration of peace in the area.

The statement also urged the Federal, Taraba government and Kurmi Local government Council to intervene immediately by deploying more security to the troubled areas such a Gateri, Bisaula, Agabi and Sunkuru.

"Such a measure, when immediately followed by a visit of the Council Chairman to the affected families with relief materials to the displaced persons would help in no small measure in calming the situation.

"We the Chamba community in Bisaula hereby call on the Taraba government to set up a commission of inquiry to unravel the remote and immediate causes of the crisis, and as well recommend measures to avert reoccurrence.  

"We also appeal for deployment of more security personnel to the troubled communities to save lives and properties of our people.

"The security operatives should release unconditionally, all our youths unjustly arrested and detained in the wake of the unfortunate attacks by the Ichen people," it stated.

"We expressed  our concern over the recent press conference on the matter by Dr Ahmed Bibinu, the President Ichen Cultural and Development Association (ICADA) where he alleged that Dakka -Chamba people were only settlers in Bisaula.

"According to Bibinu, Chamba migrated to Bisaula ‘in 1930 or thereabout’. if it is so, then what about the Ichen people that migrated to Bisaula only after the 1961 plebiscite? 

"The ICADA President will do well to provide proofs of his claims and assertions," it stated.

Recalled that the crisis which broke out in Bisaula on Dec 31, 2021 between Ichen and Dakka - Chamba people claimed eights lives on both sides and left thousands of people displaced with property worth millions of Naira destroyed.