The Federal High Court sitting in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has issued an order proscribing the Lakurawa sect and similar groups across Nigeria.
Justice James Omotosho delivered the ruling, following an ex-parte application filed by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN).
The court officially designated the Lakurawa sect as a terrorist organisation, citing their involvement in acts of terrorism, including kidnapping, banditry, cattle rustling, and attacks on communities and individuals.
Justice Omotosho declared their activities illegal and a threat to national security.
In his ruling, Justice Omotosho stated: “It is hereby ordered that the activities of the Lakurawa sect and similar groups in any part of Nigeria, especially in the North West and North Central regions, are declared as acts of terrorism and illegality.
“The Lakurawa and other similar groups are hereby proscribed, and this decision shall be published in the official gazette and two national dailies.”
The court also prohibited any individual or group from participating in or supporting the activities of the Lakurawa sect or other groups with similar objectives, engaging in banditry, kidnapping for ransom or marriage, mass abductions, sexual violence, and attacks on communities.
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The justice minister’s application, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/41/2025, was moved by David Kaswe, an assistant director in the Federal Ministry of Justice, on behalf of the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, M.B. Abubakar.
In a supporting affidavit, Michael Akawu, a litigation officer in the department of public prosecutions, stated that the Lakurawa sect had engaged in numerous acts of terrorism, including hostage-taking, spreading extremist ideologies, and attacking high-ranking officials and security personnel.
Akawu further affirmed that these activities had resulted in significant harm, loss of lives, and destruction of property, posing a grave threat to national security and public peace.
He urged the court to proscribe the sect in line with the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act.
“The activities of the Lakurawa sect/group pose a significant threat to national security, public peace, and order in Nigeria,” Akawu stated, emphasising the urgent need for their proscription.
