Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court , Abuja has proscribed the Lakurawa sect, classifying it as a terrorist organisation.
Lateef Fagbemi, the attorney-general of the Federation and justice minister, filed an ex-parte application to get the prescription order.
In a ruling, Justice Omotosho, equally proscribed similar groups operating in Nigeria, especially in the North West and North Central regions of the country.
“It is hereby ordered that an order be issued declaring the activities of the Lakurawa Sect and other similar organizations in any area of Nigeria as illegal and terrorism, particularly in the North West and North Central Regions.
“That an order is hereby issued, publishing the same in the Official Gazette and two (2) National Dailies, and hereby hereby prohibiting the existence of the Lakurawa and other similar groups in any region of Nigeria, particularly in the North West and North Central Regions of Nigeria, either collectively or as individuals, under whatever names.”
That a decree is hereby issued prohibiting any individual or group from engaging in any kind of activity that might be related to the prosecution of the Lakurawa’s collective goals or objectives, regardless of what name or platform it may be known or described.
” That an order is hereby made proscribing ali other 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.
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FG had in the ex-parte application, prayed the court for four orders.
The motion was moved by Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation (DPPF), an assistant director in the Federal Ministry of Justice, mister David Kaswe.
In a supporting affidavit that was deposed to by Mr 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, including cattle rustling, kidnapping for ransom, hostage taking, attack on top government officials, attack on security personnel, propagation of their ideology to the local communities, encouraging the locals to disregard constituted authorities, within Nigeria.
The FG asserted that the Lakurawa sect’s membership in the Terrorism (Prevent and Prohibition) Act met the requirements for a reasonable expectation.
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