The Congress for Equality and Change (CEC) led by elder statesman, Chief (Dr.) Edwin Clark, has demanded the establishment of special courts “for the speedy prosecution of terrorists and their sponsors to serve as a deterrent to others.”

It made the call in a communique issued at the end of an emergency meeting held Tuesday in Abuja, the Nigerian capital.

News Express learnt that the well-attended meeting was convened at the instance of Clark, the CEC National Leader, to review contemporary national issues.

The communiqué signed by Clark and CEC â€‹â€‹â€‹â€‹â€‹â€‹National Chairman, Sen. Emeh Ebute, said that the Congress considered the security situation in the country, which it described as “detrimental to national development,” examined the various efforts by government in this regard and concluded that more needed to be done “in the content and details of operation.”

Security, according to the CEC, “should be all-embracing; covering the entire components of the country and all its citizens wherever they may be.”

The group re-iterated its “unflinching support” for President President Goodluck Jonathan and empathised with the victims of the various acts of violence and carnage that have occurred across the country in recent times.

It advised that the proposed amnesty for Boko Haram Islamic insurgents “should not be left in the realm of speculation and or ambiguity but, rather, deliberate steps should be taken to ensure that it does not constitute an incentive for unpatriotic elements or groups to cash on to perpetuate criminality and seek refuge in amnesty.”

CEC called for a wider stakeholder consultation in arriving at the modalities expected to articulate the necessary preconditions to grant amnesty. It also called on security agents to ensure the speedy identification, arrest and prosecution of sponsors of terrorist acts.

The group at the same time called on the National Assembly to hasten the passage of the Anti-Terrorism Bill.

It commended Nigerians nationwide for their forebearance and appealed to them “to continue to be supportive of the Federal Government’s plans to maintain the peace and stability” of the country.

•Photo shows CEC National Leader, Edwin Clark.

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