Governor Agbu Kefas of Taraba State has established the Karim Lamido Peace and Justice Commission to investigate the root causes of recent violence in Karim Lamido local government area that resulted in over 40 deaths and extensive property destruction.
The announcement came during a critical stakeholders meeting held on Tuesday in Jalingo with representatives from affected communities including Bandawa, Munga Lelau, Munga Doso, Jen, and Fulani communities from Karim Lamido Local Government Area, as well as Tiv and Fulani communities from Bali Local Government.
Commission's Mandate and Security Measures
According to Governor Kefas, the commission will focus on facilitating peace restoration, investigating the underlying causes of the crisis, promoting reconciliation, and ensuring justice for victims. Additionally, a special task force will be established to identify and prosecute perpetrators of the attacks.
"A community incident reporting hotline will be activated to allow people to report tension or threats in the area," the Governor stated, adding that security operations in the region would be enhanced with troops remaining deployed to maintain stability.
Humanitarian Response
The Governor assured that humanitarian relief efforts would continue in affected areas. He also revealed plans to deploy trauma and psychological support teams to help victims recover emotionally and mentally from the ordeal.
In his appeal for broader support, Governor Kefas called on international partners including UNICEF, Civil Society Organizations, and religious bodies to assist the state in peace education and community resilience building initiatives.
The Governor urged residents to "rise above division and bitterness and imbibe the culture of love and tolerance to build a prosperous state," emphasizing that sustainable peace requires collective effort from all stakeholders.
This intervention comes as part of broader efforts to address recurring communal conflicts in Taraba State, which have resulted in significant loss of life and displacement of communities in recent months.
