TUOMO IBE

The Tuomo are in present day Delta State. The ancestors of the Tuomo (Tuama) were part of the same migration group that left Ujo-Gbaran town at the same time as the Gbaranmatu, and Arogbo between 1000 – 1200 AD. They accompanied the Arogbo on their journey, before settling at Ukpe. From Ukpe some ancestors migrated up the Forcados river to the Patani area and founded a settlement. Living nearby were the Erowha (an aboriginal Efa or Edo people). Later on due to the slave raiding activities of the Okumbiri Mein, among other circumstances, they were forced to flee the area. They and a section of the Erowha community migrated and settled at the present site of Effurun (Efferun or Ephron) (later on Efferun was to become Edo speaking i.e. Urhobo speaking).

The later ancestors of the Tuomo first lived at Effurun (upper Warri area, at this time the Effurun were still Izon speaking) but later moved to Aboh. They left Aboh due to the activities of slave dealers, and went and lived at the site of the Tarakiri west village of Isampou, before finally settling at the present site of Tuomo town, which was then called Toru Aghoro because ancestors from Okun-Aghoro (Aghoro by the sea) had founded it (Okun-sea in old Ijo). Later on ancestors arriving from the Patani section of Kabowi Ebe settled with them collectively giving birth to Tuomo Ebe.

Tuomo got its name from Tu, who was one of the ancestors who left Aboh. His son Osuku  founded Tuomo i.e. Tuama.  Some of their other towns include Torugbene, Tugbene, and Tamiegbe.  The migrations from Aboh and Isampou and the subsequent foundation of Tuomo Ebe is post 14th century. The ancestors that remained at Effurun became the Ijo ancestors of the Effurun, Uvwei and Okpe section of Urhobo people.

The ancestors of the Tuomo previously lived at Ujo-Gbaran between 700 – 1100 AD. Along with the ancestors of the Gbaramatu and Arogbo, led by Esiaku they moved to the western delta area of Escravos. From this region ancestors moved up the branch of the Niger and settled near Patani. From the Patani area lancestors moved to the Effurun area, and from the Effurun area they moved into the Bomadi creek and established the Tuomo Clan.