Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja has officially banned the Lakurawa sect, labeling it as a terrorist organization.
This decision came after an application was submitted by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN).
In his ruling, Justice Omotosho also prohibited similar groups operating in Nigeria, particularly in the North West and North Central regions of the country. The court declared the activities of the Lakurawa Sect and other similar groups in these areas as acts of terrorism and illegal.
Furthermore, the court ordered the proscription of the Lakurawa and other similar groups in Nigeria, whether operating as groups or individuals, and mandated the publication of this order in the Official Gazette and two national newspapers.
Additionally, the court banned any person or group from participating in activities related to the Lakurawa under any other name or platform. The Federal Government, through an ex-parte application, requested four orders from the court.
The motion was presented by Assistant Director David Kaswe from the Federal Ministry of Justice, based on an affidavit by litigation officer Michael Akawu.
The government argued that the Lakurawa sect had engaged in terrorist activities such as cattle rustling, kidnapping, attacks on officials and security personnel, and spreading their ideology to local communities.
The Federal Government believed that the Lakurawa sect met the criteria to be classified as a terrorist group under the Terrorism (Prevent and Prohibition) Act. It stated that proscribing the sect would be in the best interest of justice, peace, and security in Nigeria.