The Federal High Court Abuja has proscribed the Lakurawa sect, classifying it as a terrorist organisation.
The prescription order followed an ex-parte application filed by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN).
In a ruling, Justice James Omotosho, equally proscribed similar groups operating in Nigeria, especially in the North West and North Central regions of the country.
“It is hereby ordered as follows: 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 (2) 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 ali other groups in Nigeria by whatever name called with similar objectives as the Lakurawa which Include but 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 n communities, commuters and wanton destruction of lives and properties in Nigeria,” the court held.
FG had in the ex-parte application, prayed the court for four orders.
An Assistant Director in the Federal Ministry of Justice, mister David Kaswe, moved the motion that was initially filed on January 14 by the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation (DPPF), Mr Mohammed Abubakar.
In a supporting affidavit that was deposed to by Mr Michael Akawu, a litigation officer in the Department of Public Prosecutions of the Federation (DPPF), the federal government told the court that 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, within Nigeria.
The FG maintained that it had reasonable grounds to believe that the Lakurawa sect met the criteria to be proscribed as a terrorist group under the Terrorism (Prevent and Prohibition) Act.
It told the court that it would be in the overall interest of justice, peace and security of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to proscribe the sect.
