Court proscribes Lakurawa sect as terrorist organisation

The Federal High Court in Abuja has proscribed the Lakurawa sect, classifying it as a terrorist organisation, following an ex-parte application filed by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN.

In a ruling, Justice Omotosho, equally proscribed similar groups operating in Nigeria, especially in the North+West and North-Central geo-political zones of the country.

The court further proscribed the existence of the Lakurawa and other similar groups in any part of Nigeria, especially In the North-West and North-Central either in groups or as Individuals by whatsoever names they are called and publishing same in the Official Gazette and two (2) National Dailies.

The trial Judge noted that the proscription affects 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.

The Federal Government had in the ex-parte application, prayed the court for four orders.

An Assistant Director in the Federal Ministry of Justice, David Kaswe, moved the motion that was initially filed on January 14 by the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, DPPF, Mohammed Abubakar.

In a supporting affidavit, the Federal Government told the court that the Lakurawa sect has been involved in acts of terrorism, including cattle rusting, kidnapping for ransom, hostage taking, encouraging the locals to disregard constituted authorities, among others, within Nigeria.

The government 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.

(Editor: Terverr Tyav)