A federal high court in Abuja has declared the Lakurawa sect as a terrorist group.
The court also proscribed Lakurawa and other similar groups in parts of Nigeria, especially in the north-west and north-central regions of the country.
Lakurawa gained notoriety after launching a series of brutal attacks late last year on some communities in the north-west.
In November, members of the group attacked Mera village in Kebbi state, killing over 15 people and injuring many.
James Omotosho, the presiding judge, gave the order while ruling on an ex parte originating summons marked FHC/ABJ/CS/41/2025 filed by Lateef Fagbemi, attorney-general of the federation (AGF) and minister of justice.
David Kaswe, an assistant director in the federal ministry of justice, moved the application.
In the affidavit in support of the originating summons, Michael Akawu, a litigation officer in the department of public prosecutions in the federal ministry of justice, said the “Lakurawa sect/group had been involved in acts of terrorism, including cattle rustling, kidnapping for ransom, hostage taking, attack on top government officials, attack on security personnel, propagation of their ideology to the local communities, encouraging the locals to disregard constituted authorities, etc., within Nigeria”.
“That these acts have caused harm, injuries, and loss of lives and properties to innocent citizens of Nigeria. That the activities of the Lakurawa sect/group pose a significant threat to national security, public peace, and order in Nigeria,” the affidavit reads.
Akawu said he had reasonable grounds to believe that the Lakurawa sect/group met the criteria for proscription as a terrorist group under the Terrorism (Prevent and Prohibition) Act.
In his ruling, Omotosho held that “an order is hereby made declaring the activities of the Lakurawa sect and other similar groups in any part of Nigeria, especially in the north-west and north-central regions of Nigeria, as acts of terrorism and illegality”.
“That an order is hereby made proscribing the existence of the Lakurawa and other similar groups in any part of Nigeria, especially in the north-west and north-central regions of Nigeria, either in groups or as individuals by whatsoever names they are called and publishing same in the official gazette and two national dailies.
“That an order is hereby made proscribing any person or group of persons from participating in any manner whatsoever in any form of activities evolving or concerning the prosecution of the collective intention or otherwise of the Lakurawa under any other name or platform however called or described.
“That an order is hereby made proscribing all other groups in Nigeria by whatever name called with similar objectives as the Lakurawa, which include but are not limited to banditry, kidnapping for ransom, kidnapping for marriage, mass abduction of school children and other citizens, cattle rustling, enslavement, imprisonment, severe deprivation of physical liberty, torture, rape, sexual slavery, enforced prostitution, forced pregnancy, other forms of sexual violence, attacks and killings in communities, and wanton destruction of lives and properties in Nigeria.”
