A Federal High Court in Abuja has officially proscribed the Lakurawa sect, declaring it a terrorist organisation, and extending the ban to similar groups across Nigeria, with a specific focus on the North-West and North-Central regions.
The presiding judge, Justice James Omotosho, in his ruling on the ex-parte originating summons submitted by the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, (SAN), on Thursday in Abuja.
In the ex-parte application, the AGF sought four Orders, all of which were granted by the court. The Motion, dated January 13 and filed on January 14, was moved by David Kaswe, an Assistant Director at the Federal Ministry of Justice, on behalf of the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation (PPF), M.B. Abubakar.
The affidavit supporting the originating summons was sworn by Michael Akawu, a litigation officer in the Department of Public Prosecutions, who stated that he had obtained the consent of the PPF Director to make the declarations.
Akawu detailed that the Lakurawa sect/group had been involved in acts of terrorism, including cattle rustling, kidnapping for ransom, hostage-taking, attacks on top government officials and security personnel, and efforts to spread their ideology within local communities.
He further stated that they encouraged locals to disregard authorities, resulting in harm, injuries, and loss of lives and property to innocent citizens of Nigeria.
Akawu noted that the activities of the Lakurawa sect/group posed a serious threat to national security, public peace, and order in Nigeria. Based on these grounds, he expressed his belief that the group met the criteria for proscription under the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act.
He concluded that proscribing the Lakurawa sect/group would serve the best interest of justice, peace, and national security in the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
