The Crusaders’ Advocacy Initiative, a non-governmental organisation, has urged the Inspector General of Police, Alkali Usman, to create a special police department to forestall potential domestic violence in Nigerian homes.

Rights activist and president of CAI, Cletus Uwakina, made the call in a statement in Abuja on Monday.

He said the call became necessary given the widely reported death of the popular gospel singer Osinachi Nwachukwu, whose death was linked to domestic violence by her husband Peter Nwachukwu. 

“It is expected that the creation of this new formation will engender an opportunity for potential victims of domestic violence and abuse to pick up their phones at once and call the police formation,” the statement read.

Mr Uwakina stated that domestic violence, although not peculiar to Nigeria alone, is gradually assuming a horrendous dimension in the society.

“In some cultures, it is permissible and justified for a husband to violate a wife domestically without consequences.

“However, it is poverty of reasoning for anybody to think or reduce the question of domestic violence to a husband and wife affair or to a situation where a husband beats up his wife.

“As a lawyer in practice, who is ethically bound by the rules and ethics of confidentiality of clients, I can confidently state that so many men are victims of domestic violence.

“But they cannot say it out either for peace to reign in their homes or for the shame of being mocked by society and their fellow men as weak, feeble and unable to control their homes.” 

Mr Uwakina expressed concern that the arrest and prosecution of culprits by the police in accordance with the laws in most situations had not proved to be a solution, as acts of domestic violence seemed unabating.

He said the solution to domestic violence is not all about arresting and prosecuting offenders who probably caused the death of their victims, but to avert occurrence and possible death of potential victims of domestic violence.

He said the formation of a police department solely dedicated to issues of domestic violence and other related matters was important in preventing the dangers of domestic violence.

“Such police formation, when instituted, must be present in every division of the Police Force nationwide and must be funded and empowered with capacity for immediate and quick response.

(NAN)