Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, Christopher Musa, has issued a stern warning to members of the Lakurawa sect, declaring that any individual linked to the group who is encountered by Nigerian troops will be treated as “good as dead.”
The statement came in the wake of the recent proscription of Lakurawa as a terrorist organization by a Federal High Court in Abuja.
The court ruling, issued by Justice James Omotosho, followed an application filed by Nigeria’s Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN. The court’s decision effectively declared Lakurawa and similar groups as terrorists, placing them under the legal framework that allows Nigerian forces to act with full force against them.
In a broadcast appearance on Channels TV’s Politics Today, CDS Musa clarified that the ruling gives the military the legal authority to pursue Lakurawa members without restraint.
“It makes a lot of difference, and it means we can go after them with full force,” Musa said. He further stressed that with the group officially classified as a terror organization, the military now has the necessary legal grounds to eradicate them.
Musa did not mince words, stating, “Any Lakurawa member seen now is as good as dead.” His comments indicate a shift in the military’s approach to handling members of the sect, marking a more aggressive stance toward eliminating the threat they pose. The Defence Chief’s statement underscores the seriousness of the government’s efforts to combat terrorism and militant activity within Nigeria.
Furthermore, Musa criticized the tactics employed by groups like Boko Haram, another notorious terrorist organization operating in the region. He accused Boko Haram of using human shields to protect their operatives from military attacks.
