WORRIED by the spate of increase in cultism, violence and other related offences, prevalent amongst youths in the country which destroys their future, the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Mohammed Adamu Abubakar has initiated a programme of action geared towards addressing the menace.
The initiative tagged “Police Campaign Against Cultism and other Vices (POCACOV),” is aimed at curbing the menace of cultism and other vices perpetrated by the youths across the country.
The national flag-off of the programme is scheduled to hold in Enugu on August 29, 2019 by the Inspector General of Police, Abubakar.
According to the National Coordinator of POCACOV, SP Ebere Amaraizu, “POCACOV is all about you and it is the initiative of the Inspector General of Police, IGP Mohammed Adamu Abubakar geared towards getting our youth who are involved in cultism and other vices as well as its associated violence back to the society to enable them to be meaningful to themselves and be able to contribute their quota in nation building, growth and development.
“POCACOV is not a warfare nor fight but a philosophy aimed at making the involved youths to retrace their steps and toe the path of positivism. It is worrisome to note that today cultism and other vices have spread its evil and destructive tentacles to not only in our tertiary institutions but in secondary schools, communities and of course Artisans’ involvements.
“Today, many of our traders, drivers, conductors, tricycle riders, commercial motorcyclists, females are involved in cultism and other vices and this requires that something urgent must be in place towards checkmating the trend.
“POCACOV is structured in a community-oriented policing form to capture every relevant stakeholder. It also serves as offering of olive branch for penitent ones who will be de-radicalized and re-integrated into the society to contribute their quota in nation building as the Inspector General of police is not interested in incarcerating the youths but to make them better.”
Speaking further, Amaraizu maintained that cultism is the mother of crime in our environment today as many have been killed, maimed while properties are destroyed and people run helter skelter just as it affects the socio-economic development of our society.
Meanwhile, those fanning the embers of cultism and other vices and its associated violence in various schools, communities across the country have been advised to toe the path of peace and order which POCACOV offers by retracing their steps and joining hands in nation building rather than involving themselves in such activities capable of tarnishing their future.
“The Inspector General of Police however, expressed displeasure in some reported killings occassioned by cult-related activities in various states of the country and warn for a change of attitude. The programme will be deployed in all the states of the country after the national flag off by the Inspector General Police,” the statement clarifies.
