The Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, has issued a strong warning to members of the Lakurawa sect, stating that any member seen by Nigerian troops is “as good as dead.”
Musa made the declaration during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme. His comments come in the wake of a landmark decision by the Federal High Court in Abuja, which officially proscribed the Lakurawa sect as a terrorist organisation.
This decisive ruling, delivered by Justice James Omotosho, was based on an ex-parte application filed by the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mr Lateef Fagbemi, SAN. The court’s judgement categorises the Lakurawa sect and similar groups operating across Nigeria as terrorist organisations, granting the government and military broader powers to confront these groups.
Reacting to the development, General Musa noted that the court’s decision provides the Nigerian Armed Forces with a solid legal framework to intensify operations against the sect.
“With the proscription of the Lakurawa sect as a terror group, there is now a legal backing to actively eradicate them,” Musa said. “Any Lakurawa member seen now is as good as dead.”
The designation of Lakurawa as a terrorist organisation represents a turning point in the country’s counterterrorism strategy. It enables the military to employ maximum force against the sect without the constraints of legal ambiguity.
The proscription order aligns with Nigeria’s Terrorism Prevention Act, which provides a legal structure for prosecuting individuals associated with designated groups. This move has been widely welcomed by security experts, who argue that a lack of clear legal definitions often hampers military operations against extremist groups.
However, analysts warn that while the court order is a positive step, dismantling the Lakurawa network will require coordinated efforts involving intelligence gathering, ground operations, and the protection of civilians caught in the crossfire.
During the interview, General Musa also shed light on the challenges faced by the military when engaging with extremist groups like Lakurawa and Boko Haram. He accused these groups of using civilians as human shields to complicate military operations.
“This Boko Haram thing is a lot. They have realised that we obey international law, but they don’t,” Musa explained. “What do they do? They use human shields anytime they have something—they hide among the people so we can’t shoot.”
This tactic, Musa argued, often puts the military in difficult situations as troops must balance the need to neutralise threats with the imperative of protecting civilian lives.
The Lakurawa sect, like Boko Haram and ISWAP (Islamic State West Africa Province), has been linked to violent extremist activities across northern Nigeria. While specific details about the group remain scarce, security agencies have described them as a splinter group with operational tactics similar to other well-known insurgent organisations.
Their activities are believed to include mass abductions, violent attacks on communities, and the destruction of public infrastructure. In recent years, their influence has grown, leading to heightened calls for government action to curb their activities.
The Federal High Court’s ruling has been praised as a critical milestone in Nigeria’s fight against terrorism. Justice Omotosho’s decision reinforces the government’s zero-tolerance policy toward groups that threaten national security.
Speaking on the ruling, the AGF, Mr Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, expressed confidence in the military’s ability to implement the court’s mandate. “This decision reflects our commitment to safeguarding the lives and property of Nigerians,” Fagbemi said.
The court’s decision has sparked widespread discussions among Nigerians, with many expressing relief that the government is taking decisive action. Others have called for transparency in the military’s operations to ensure the protection of innocent lives during anti-terror campaigns.
International bodies and neighbouring countries have also taken note of the court’s action. Nigeria’s fight against terrorism has been supported by global partners, including the United States and the United Kingdom, through intelligence-sharing and funding.
General Musa emphasised the importance of public support in the fight against terrorism. “We cannot do this alone,” he said. “We need Nigerians to cooperate with security forces by providing information about suspicious activities in their communities.”
As the military steps up operations against the Lakurawa sect, experts urge the government to address the root causes of extremism, such as poverty, unemployment, and inadequate education, which often fuel recruitment into terrorist organisations.
