Court Declares Lakurawa Sect A Terrorist Organization, Orders Immediate Proscription

In a landmark ruling, the Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday officially declared the Lakurawa sect and similar groups operating in Nigeria as terrorist organisations. Justice James Omotosho, presiding over the case, granted the orders sought by the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, effectively proscribing the group and its activities, particularly in the North West and North Central regions.

Delivering the judgment, Justice Omotosho stated:
“It is hereby ordered as follows:
– The activities of the Lakurawa sect and other similar groups across Nigeria, especially in the North West and North Central regions, are hereby declared acts of terrorism and illegality.
– An order is made proscribing the existence of the Lakurawa sect and similar groups in any form, whether as individuals or organisations, under any guise or name.
– The proscription order is to be published in the Official Gazette and two national newspapers.
– All groups with objectives similar to those of the Lakurawa sect, including but not limited to banditry, mass abductions, cattle rustling, sexual violence, and attacks on communities and individuals, are also proscribed.”

The AGF had approached the court with an ex-parte application, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/41/2025, seeking four specific orders to address the activities of the group. These requests were presented on behalf of the government by an Assistant Director at the Federal Ministry of Justice, David Kaswe, under the guidance of the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation (DPPF), M.B. Abubakar.

In an affidavit filed alongside the application, Michael Akawu, a litigation officer in the Department of Public Prosecutions, detailed the Lakurawa sect’s involvement in numerous acts of terrorism. These include cattle rustling, kidnapping for ransom, attacks on government officials and security personnel, mass abductions, and the promotion of anti-government ideologies among local communities.

Akawu highlighted the significant harm caused by the group’s actions, including loss of lives, destruction of property, and threats to national security and public peace. He emphasized that the group met the criteria for proscription under the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act.

“The activities of the Lakurawa sect pose a significant threat to national security, public peace, and order in Nigeria,” he stated, adding that proscribing the group would serve the broader interests of justice and national stability.

The court’s decision marks a critical step in the government’s efforts to combat terrorism and address the security challenges plaguing the country. The Lakurawa sect’s designation as a terrorist organization underscores the seriousness of its activities and the urgent need for action to protect lives and restore peace in affected regions.

The ruling has been widely welcomed by security experts and citizens, who hope that the proscription will strengthen efforts to curb the group’s operations and restore order to the affected areas.