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.

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.

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, on Thursday, 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 local communities and encouraging locals to disregard authorities, “resulting in injuries, and loss of lives and property to innocent citizens of Nigeria”.

An unnamed man told the BBC the group emerged few years ago in some villages in Sokoto and Kebbi states and people had notified authorities of its existence but nothing was done.

At first, Lakurawa members promised to tackle banditry and help protect local people from cattle thieves.

“But things escalated when they started asking to check people’s phones and would flog those that have music in them before deleting them,” the man said.

In the court papers, Nigeria’s Attorney-General and Minister of Justice Lateef Fagbemi said the group’s activities posed a serious threat to national security.

In a swift decision, Justice James Omotosho declared the group “a terrorist organisation and extended the ban to similar groups across Nigeria, with a specific focus on the North West and North Central regions”.

This move will give the Nigerian government sweeping powers to take strong actions against the group.

Security agencies now have broad mandates to disrupt and dismantle the group’s operations, including arrests, prosecution, asset freezes, and increased surveillance.

It could also lead to public stigma and isolation for individuals associated with the designated group.

Across the country, especially in northern Nigeria, people fear another scenario similar to when Boko Haram emerged in the late 2000s.

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