Blitz Bureau
ABUJA: Nigeria’s authorities have officially declared the Lakurawa armed group – which flogs people for listening to music – a terrorist organisation and banned it across the country, according to a BBC report.
Lakurawa is a new militant group which carries out attacks, targeting local communities in north-western Nigeria and across the border with Niger.
Nigerian officials say Lakurawa is affiliated with jihadist factions in Mali and Niger, and its militants have for years settled in communities along the Nigeria-Niger border, marrying local women and recruiting youths, said the BBC report.
This adds to Nigeria’s security concerns, as it is already fighting against several armed groups, from Islamist militants Boko Haram to kidnapping gangs.
The Nigerian Government submitted a document to a High Court in the capital, Abuja, detailing the activities of the group.
It said Lakurawa had been involved in acts of terrorism, including cattle rustling, kidnapping for ransom, hostage-taking and attacks on top government officials. The group was also accused of spreading harmful ideology within the local communities and encouraging locals to disregard authorities
