Ebelechukwu International School Nkpor Shines At National Quiz Contest, Targets African Glory

 By Emeka Chiaghanam

The Police Campaign Against Cultism and Other Vices (POCACOV) has stepped up its nationwide drive to prevent cultism, drug abuse and other social vices, with the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Olatunji Disu, intensifying efforts to make preventive policing and community partnership central to Nigeria's security strategy. 

The initiative received a major boost in Anambra State, where government officials, traditional rulers, youth leaders and senior police officers pledged stronger collaboration to tackle crime before it takes root.

The team led by its National Coordinator of POCACOV, SP Orvenonne Ikwen, Ph.D,  who highlighted Anambra as the first stop in the South-East during the initiative's renewed nationwide sensitisation tour. She said the visit reflects the IGP's determination to strengthen grassroots engagement, build public trust and encourage communities to take ownership of crime prevention.

The delegation was first received at the Anambra State Police Command Headquarters on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, CP Ikioye Orutugu, recently promoted to Assistant Inspector-General of Police, by the command's spokesperson, SP Tochukwu Ikenga. Ikenga praised the Inspector-General for sustaining POCACOV, describing it as one of the Nigeria Police Force's most effective community policing initiatives.

According to him, the campaign demonstrates the police leadership's commitment to moving beyond traditional law enforcement by investing in prevention, public confidence and closer relationships with communities. He noted that lasting security depends not only on arrests but also on addressing the conditions that expose young people to crime.

Speaking during the engagement, SP Ikwen said the Inspector-General remains deeply committed to the success of POCACOV because he believes that security is a shared responsibility. She explained that the initiative promotes community partnership, trust-building and non-kinetic policing by working with citizens to prevent crime before it occurs.

"The Inspector-General is passionate about community partnership and building trust," she said. "That is why he continues to drive POCACOV across the country. The police cannot do it alone. Communities, parents, schools, religious organisations and other stakeholders all have important roles to play."

She explained that although POCACOV was established in August 2019, the current police leadership has strengthened the initiative by expanding its reach and making preventive policing one of its major priorities. Rather than waiting for crimes to happen, she said the campaign focuses on early intervention through advocacy, mentorship and continuous engagement with young people.

According to the National Coordinator, POCACOV now partners with schools, traditional institutions, faith-based organisations, government agencies, civil society groups and community leaders to educate young people about the dangers of cultism, drug abuse, cybercrime, bullying and other harmful activities while promoting positive values and responsible citizenship.

She highlighted the need for stronger family values and parental involvement, stressing that many social problems begin long before children become involved in criminal activities. According to her, crime prevention must therefore start at home and continue through schools and communities.

Building Safer Communities Through Prevention

The campaign's message received strong backing from the traditional institution. The traditional ruler of Ifitedunu, His Royal Majesty, Igwe Dr Chukwuemeka Ilouno (Eze Dunu), who at the briefing described POCACOV as a practical solution that tackles crime at its foundation rather than simply responding after offences have been committed. 

The monarch warned that cultism and substance abuse are spreading among younger people, including pupils and secondary school students, largely because of broken homes, domestic violence and negative influences. He urged parents, schools, religious organisations, traditional rulers and the Nigeria Police Force to work together to reverse the trend before it worsens.

Igwe Ilouno also endorsed the establishment of POCACOV clubs in schools, saying they would help instil discipline, positive values and responsible behaviour from an early age. He expressed confidence that sustained awareness campaigns and early intervention would reduce social vices and lessen the burden on security agencies.

The campaign also attracted the support of youth organisations. The President-General of the youth wing of the Anambra State Town Unions Council (ASTUC Youth), Comrade Ken Okoli, said Anambra's well-organised community structure provides an ideal platform for taking POCACOV to every part of the state.

Okoli noted that the state's 179 communities already have active youth leadership structures capable of driving grassroots awareness and mobilising local participation. He pledged the full support of ASTUC Youth, expressing confidence that Anambra has the capacity to become a national model for community-based crime prevention through stronger partnerships between the police and the people.

Obosi's Community Model Offers Fresh Hope

The delegation later paid a courtesy call on His Royal Majesty, Igwe Chidubem Iweka III (Eze Iweka III), the traditional ruler of Obosi Kingdom and Chairman of the Anambra State Traditional Rulers Council at his palace, where the monarch shared Obosi's remarkable journey in confronting cultism through community action.

Igwe Iweka recalled that the campaign came at a painful cost, as some of those who first championed the fight against cult groups became targets of violent attacks and lost their lives. He said the situation forced the community to work closely with the police, the military and other security agencies to dismantle criminal networks and restore peace to the town.

Out of that experience, he explained, emerged the Movement Against Cultism in Obosi (MACO), a community-based initiative built on dialogue, awareness and reconciliation. One of its earliest programmes, organised at the Obosi Stadium, attracted more than 500 young people who publicly renounced cultism and pledged to embrace lawful and productive lives.

The traditional ruler described cultism as "a one-way street," warning young people that while joining may appear easy, escaping often comes with severe and sometimes deadly consequences. He disclosed that he has already presented a proposal to security authorities, urging them to adopt the Obosi model across Anambra and other states as a practical blueprint for tackling cultism through community participation.

Zone 13 Reinforces Preventive Policing

The campaign also took the delegation to the Zone 13 Police Headquarters in Ukpo, where the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of the zone, AIG Miller Gayere Dantawaye, PSC, commended the Inspector-General for giving renewed strength to preventive policing through POCACOV.

Dantawaye described the initiative as one of the Nigeria Police Force's most effective non-kinetic strategies for reducing crime. He said meaningful engagement, mentorship and sustained public education often produce longer-lasting results than enforcement alone because they discourage criminal behaviour before it develops.

The AIG encouraged the POCACOV team to expand the campaign across other states under Zone 13, especially Enugu, while assuring the delegation of the zone's full support. He also advised organisers to carefully screen volunteers joining the movement to protect its credibility and prevent individuals with questionable backgrounds from taking advantage of the platform.   

He further urged the team to deepen its activities in primary and secondary schools, stressing that children should be introduced to positive values early enough to reduce their chances of becoming involved in cultism, drug abuse and other criminal activities later in life.

Anambra Government Throws Its Weight Behind POCACOV

The campaign gathered further support when the POCACOV delegation visited the Anambra State Government at the Light House in Awka, where the Secretary to the State Government, Mrs Chiamaka Nnake, described the initiative as a perfect complement to Governor Chukwuma Soludo's vision of building a safer and more responsible society through value reformation.

Nnake explained that the Soludo administration's development agenda is anchored on key pillars, including security, law and order, governance and value reformation, adding that POCACOV naturally fits into the state's strategy of addressing the root causes of crime before they escalate. She said the initiative's emphasis on community engagement and behavioural change aligns with government's efforts to build what she calls the "New Anambra."

She praised the commitment shown by the police, traditional rulers, youth leaders and volunteers involved in the campaign, describing their efforts as a demonstration of genuine concern for the future of the state. According to her, the initiative reflects the same spirit behind the state's "Salute to the New Anambra" campaign, which encourages citizens to contribute their time, skills and ideas towards building a better society.

The SSG pledged to brief Governor Soludo on the campaign and explore ways of integrating POCACOV into the state's broader crime prevention and value reformation programmes. She also identified the forthcoming August women's meetings across the state as an important platform for taking the campaign directly to families and communities, while suggesting that respected adults and community leaders should join young people in championing the message against cultism and other social vices.

Communities Called to Keep the Momentum Alive

Speaking on the campaign's progress in the state, Anambra State POCACOV Coordinator, ASP Francesca Egbunike, said the initiative has continued to strengthen trust between the police and communities while creating opportunities for young people to choose productive and responsible lifestyles. She described POCACOV as a platform that encourages collaboration rather than confrontation and commended the Inspector-General for sustaining its expansion across the country.

Egbunike noted that the growing support from schools, traditional institutions, religious organisations, youth groups and community leaders demonstrates that Nigerians are increasingly embracing preventive policing as a shared responsibility. She expressed confidence that with continued public participation, the campaign would deliver lasting results in the fight against cultism and other social vices.