Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja has officially proscribed the Lakurawa sect, declaring it a terrorist organization. The court’s decision followed an ex-parte application filed by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN).
In his ruling, Justice Omotosho also extended the proscription to similar groups operating across Nigeria, particularly in the North West and North Central regions.
Proscription Order Details
The court issued the following orders:
- Declaration of terrorist activities: The court declared the activities of the Lakurawa sect and similar groups in Nigeria as acts of terrorism and illegality.
- Proscription and publication: The Lakurawa sect and other similar groups were proscribed, with their proscription to be published in the Official Gazette and two national newspapers.
- Prohibition of participation: Individuals or groups were barred from participating in any activities associated with the Lakurawa sect under any name or platform.
- Inclusion of similar groups: Other groups with objectives similar to those of the Lakurawa sect, including banditry, kidnapping for ransom, forced marriages, mass abductions, cattle rustling, and violent attacks on communities, were also proscribed.
The court emphasized that the sect’s activities include acts of severe physical violence, torture, sexual slavery, enforced prostitution, mass killings, and the wanton destruction of lives and property.
The Federal Government, through the ex-parte application, argued that the Lakurawa sect met the criteria for proscription under the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act.
An affidavit submitted by Mr. Michael Akawu, a litigation officer in the Department of Public Prosecutions of the Federation (DPPF), detailed the sect’s involvement in terrorism-related activities, including cattle rustling, ransom kidnappings, hostage-taking, attacks on government officials and security personnel, and the propagation of extremist ideologies to local communities.
The government maintained that proscribing the group was crucial for the peace, security, and overall stability of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The motion was moved by Mr. David Kaswe, Assistant Director at the Federal Ministry of Justice, on behalf of the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, who initially applied on January 14.
Justice Omotosho’s ruling aims to curtail the spread of terrorism and safeguard the lives and property of Nigerians, especially in regions severely affected by the sect’s activities.
