The Federal High Court, Abuja has proscribed the Lakurawa sect, classifying it as a terrorist organization. The classification followed an ex-parte application filed by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN).
The Federal High Court Justice, James Omotosho in a ruling, equally proscribed similar groups operating in Nigeria. These are group operating especially in the Northwest and North Central regions of the country.
Delivering the judgement, Omotosho said, “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 Northwest 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 Northwest 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 all other groups in Nigeria by whatever name called with similar objectives as the Lakurawa. Which include, but not limited to banditry, kidnapping for ransom and kidnapping for marriage. Mass abduction of school children and other citizens, cattle rustling, enslavement, imprisonment, and severe deprivation of physical liberty. Torture, rape, sexual slavery, enforced prostitution, forced pregnancy, other forms of sexual violence. And attacks and killings in communities, commuters and wanton destruction of lives and properties in Nigeria,” the court held.
According to reports, the FG had in the ex-parte application, prayed the court for four orders.
The report disclosed that an Assistant Director in the Federal Ministry of Justice, mister David Kaswe, had 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 that was deposed to by 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. These included cattle rustling, kidnapping for ransom, hostage taking, attack on top government officials, and attack on security personnel. Also listed are propagation of their ideology to the local communities and encouraging the locals to disregard constituted authorities, within Nigeria.
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.
source: Channels TV
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