To address the root causes of crime and to sensitize parents about parental responsibility in preventing crimes amongst youths through a non-kinetic approach, the Police Campaign Against Cultism and Other Vices (POCACOV) a unit of the Nigeria Police Force has taken enlightenment campaigns to Jiwa Community area of the FCT.
The anti-crime outreach program and enlightenment campaigns vigorously took place on Tuesday, November 12 2024, at the Jiwa Town Hall, Jiwa Town, Abuja, with a view to dissuading youths from engaging in Cultism, Drug Abuse, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence and Other Vices in the Community.
The programme put together by the Police Campaign Against Cultism & Other Vices (POCACOV) themed "Breaking the Circle: Parental Responsibility in Preventing Youth Crime", aims to address critical social issues impacting our youth and foster a more resilient community.
Addressing stakeholders at the sensitization seminar, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olukayode Adeolu Egbetokun ably represented by the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi urged the community to support the traditional rulers, the security agencies, the Vigilante group in the community.
IGP Egbetokun emphasized the intent of the Police to encourage a collaborative spirit among all members of various communities with a focus on the importance of parental responsibility and proactive measures in youth crime prevention.
By bringing together diverse stakeholders and facilitating meaningful dialogue, the Force aims to contribute to creating a safer and more supportive environment for the youth and families, as a microcosm of the society.
National Coordinator for the Police Campaign Against Cultism and Other Vices (POCACOV), CSP Olabisi Okuwobi in her remarks said the event served as a platform for discussion, learning, and engagement on implementing targeted strategies to combat pressing issues such as cultism, drug misuse and abuse, as well as other social vices which threatens the well-being of our youth.
With an estimated 500 participants including parents, local leaders, and youth representatives, CSP Okumobi explained that POCACOV represents a new approach by the Nigeria Police in combating cultism and other vices. It is also a way of recognizing the fact that core law enforcement approach is no longer enough in combating these sets of crimes. Hence, the need to work with different stakeholders as well as mobilize the people to aid in getting to the root of the crimes.
In his remarks, the Special Guest of Honour, His Royal Highness, Dr Idris Musa, the Sarkin of Jiwa Community ably represented by Alhaji Usman Halilu Galadinmajo revealed that the environment, peer groups lured youths to crime.
He opined that the government should strive to educate the youths in the community and sensitize them to combat cultism and other vices.
SpyeTV News reports that youth development and rehabilitation programs and skill acquisition projects were also introduced to equip youths with constructive alternatives to criminality and fostering self-sufficiency within the community. Various palliatives like food stuff, educational kits, and materials were also distributed during the outreach, including clothing, food stuff, and other household items.
The Police Campaign Against Cultism and Other Vices (POCACOV) is an initiative that is aimed at saving our youths from the claws of cultism and other vices through advocacy, awareness creation, sensitization and re-orientation, and School and community outreaches, amongst others.
POCACOV has increasingly made impacts across different States of the Federation that have keyed into its operational activities since the National Launch by the former Inspector-General of Police Mohammed Adamu in 2020 noting that a POCACOV Resource Centre in Enugu was established where resource materials and modules are developed for effective nationwide implementation of the campaign.
As a campaign anchored on the principles of community policing, we invite our youths, transporters, artisans, faith-based and community based organizations, traditional Rulers, youths groups, students, market organizations, sister security agencies, the media, development partners and indeed, all well meaning Nigerians to join forces with the Police and support the campaign in order to save Nigerian Youths from the claws of cultism and other vices and for a safe and secured nation.
