The President of the Association of Industrial Security and Safety Operators of Nigeria, Dr. Ona Ekhomu, has asked the Nigeria Police Force to consider setting up a special unit to tackle violence that may result during the February elections.

He said this had bcome necessary due to recent violent clashes across the country among supporters of political parties, despite the peace pact signed by party leaders in Abuja.

A statement on Wednesday said that Ekhomu suggested that the unit should form part of the existing State Criminal Investigation Departments of the police in all the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory.

He said, “Since Nigerians are truly concerned and scared about the incidence of violence and prospects of further violence during the elections the Nigeria Police Force as the primary crime control agency of the government, should urgently set up structures and processes to address this problem.

“If we have the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, Special Anti-Terrorism Squad, Special Anti-Pipeline Vandalism Squad, Special Anti-Human Trafficking, among others, we equally deserve a Special Anti-Election Violence Squad to investigate election violence and successfully prosecute violators.

“Election violence is prevalent in Nigeria because of the inability and unwillingness of the police to investigate and prosecute purveyors of election violence. This is because the organisational structure and processes are not in place. The police must exhibit the organic principle of infinite variability and adapt to solve important existential security problems such as election violence”.

The security expert urged the Inspector General of Police, Suleiman Abba, to urgently formulate and sign a force order creating the unit, so that it could protect Nigerians by arresting and prosecuting violent politicians, their supporters and hired thugs.

Ekhomu, who is the first chartered security professional in West Africa, also asked the unit to use video and photographic equipment for evidence gathering during election campaigns.

He advised officers to be integrated into the unit to utilise force multipliers such as online information sources, internal and external liaison and intelligence information.

“Only ethical officers should be chosen for this important national assignment. Investigators for the unit should be persistent, matured, have people skills, be self-starters, be able to multitask, have good observation skills, and be thoroughbred professionals,” he added.