Coalition urges Buhari to sign order against backers of terrorists

Coalition of Civil Societies Against Terrorism and Extremism (CATE) has implored President Muhammadu Buhari to sign an executive order that would allow law enforcement agents arrest and prosecute sponsors and collaborators of terrorists.

According to CATE, this move will finally nail the coffin of Boko Haram, especially with troops’ recent impressive outings against terrorists.

Like the strategy deployed in the war against corruption, the coalition noted that a swift arrest and prosecution of the perpetrators and those who aid such acts could potentially be the waterloo.

Speaking at a press conference in Abuja yesterday, Secretary-General of CATE, Musa Moses, said the order should be firm and clear, stipulating a maximum of 60 days for the trial of suspects without bail.

He added that convicted persons should face capital punishment, same with others who carry out any campaign that helps to promote terrorism.

The group called on Buhari to empower the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) to take up such cases until justice is done.

With the order in place, the troops can concentrate on the remaining miscreants and flush them out within a very short time, CATE enthused.

It stated, “When fighting any organism, it is important to target its life source. It is often the strategy adopted by animals, especially the lion, when hunting its prey. The lion targets the throat of its prey to deny them further access to air and then terminate their breathing. It does not just start by tearing the prey into pieces, but by first eliminating the prey’s ability to breathe.

“Similar to the success strategy adopted by the king of the jungle, it is time Mr. President denies the terrorists the air they breathe. The air that sustains terrorist activities in the country is their sponsors. The sponsors of Boko Haram/ Islamic State’s West Africa Province and other bandits are equivalent of the air that sustains the breathing of these organisations; cut off the sponsors and watch the terrorist organisation collapse within weeks before our great armed forces.”

CATE said the military had done its part and it kept doing even more in the battle against terrorism and other security challenges, with many of them paying the ultimate price, yet they remained undeterred.

“There is no doubt that the terrorists and other criminals have been badly decimated and now operate from the fringes. However, it is time for the government to give the military the required backing needed to finally finish off these terrorists once and for all.”