{"id":3878,"date":"2025-01-24T09:52:28","date_gmt":"2025-01-24T09:52:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/beadysword.com.ng\/blog\/?p=3878"},"modified":"2025-01-24T09:52:49","modified_gmt":"2025-01-24T09:52:49","slug":"court-proscribes-lakurawa-declares-group-terrorist-sect","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/beadysword.com.ng\/blog\/2025\/01\/24\/court-proscribes-lakurawa-declares-group-terrorist-sect\/","title":{"rendered":"Court Proscribes Lakurawa, Declares Group Terrorist Sect"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The Federal High Court in Abuja, on Thursday, issued an order proscribing the Lakurawa sect and other similar groups operating in Nigeria, particularly in the North-West and North Central regions.<\/div>\n

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Justice James Omotosho delivered the ruling in response to an ex parte application filed by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi<\/strong> (SAN).<\/p>\n

The application, marked FHC\/ABJ\/CS\/41\/2025, was presented by\u00a0David Kaswe<\/strong>, an Assistant Director at the Federal Ministry of Justice, on behalf of the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation,\u00a0M.B. Abubakar<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

In an affidavit supporting the application, Michael Akawu, a litigation officer in the Department of Public Prosecutions, outlined the sect\u2019s activities, which include: Cattle rustling, Kidnapping for ransom, Hostage-taking; Attacks on government officials and security personnel, Spreading radical ideology to local communities, Encouraging defiance of constituted authorities<\/p>\n

Akawu emphasized that these acts have caused significant harm, loss of lives, and destruction of properties, posing a grave threat to national security and public peace.<\/p>\n

He argued that proscribing the sect and similar groups was essential for Nigeria\u2019s safety and security.<\/p>\n

Justice Omotosho granted the reliefs sought and issued the following orders:<\/p>\n

1. Declaring the activities of the Lakurawa sect and similar groups in any part of Nigeria as acts of terrorism.<\/p>\n

2. Proscribing the existence of Lakurawa and similar groups, whether as individuals or organizations, under any name or platform.<\/p>\n

3. Mandating the publication of the proscription order in the Official Gazette and two national dailies.<\/p>\n

4. Banning participation in any activities associated with the Lakurawa sect or similar groups.<\/p>\n

5. Proscribing other groups involved in acts such as banditry, kidnapping, cattle rustling, and other forms of violence.<\/p>\n

The Lakurawa sect reportedly infiltrated Nigeria from Niger and Mali and has been a significant security concern since its emergence in Sokoto State around 2016 or 2017.<\/p>\n

Initially formed as a self-defence militia to combat banditry, the group evolved into a radical faction, enforcing strict religious laws and exerting control over local communities.<\/p>\n

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Their activities have spread to Kebbi State, where they carried out violent attacks, including a notorious operation in November 2024 in Mera village, Augie Local Government Area, which resulted in multiple deaths and cattle rustling.<\/p>\n

The Nigerian Defence Headquarters identified Lakurawa as a terrorist organization with links to extremist elements from Mali and Niger, exacerbating insecurity in the northwestern region.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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  The Federal High Court in Abuja, on Thursday, issued an order proscribing the Lakurawa sect and other similar groups operating in Nigeria, particularly in the North-West and North Central regions.   Justice James...<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":3879,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3878","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t