The Nigerian government submitted a document to the Supreme Court in the capital Abuja on Thursday detailing the group’s activities.
It said Lakurova was involved in terrorism, including cattle rustling, kidnapping for ransom, hostage-taking and attacks on top government officials.
The group was also accused of spreading a harmful ideology in local communities and encouraging locals to ignore the authorities, “resulting in injuries and loss of life and property to innocent Nigerian citizens.”
The group appeared a few years ago in some villages in Sokoto and Kebbi states and people reported their existence to the authorities but nothing was done.
At first, the Lakurov members promised to fight banditry and help protect local residents from cattle thieves.
“But things escalated when they started asking to check people’s phones and they’ll round up those with music before removing them,” the man said.
In court papers, Nigeria’s Attorney General and Justice Minister Lateef Fagbemi said the group’s activities posed a serious threat to national security.
Last year, the press secretary of the military service of General Edward Buba said that the emergence of Lakurova is directly related to political instability in neighboring Mali and Niger.
The military seized power in both countries, in part due to pressure from an Islamist insurgency.
