ENUGU— The Nigeria Police Force, (NPF) today, officially flagged off the Police Campaign Against Cultism and Other Vices (POCACOV) in Enugu which is geared towards addressing the menace of cultism and other related crimes across the country.
The programme – part of the ideas of the current Inspector General of Police, IGP, Mohammed Abubakar Adamu is in partnership with the Nigeria Policing Programme (NPP) and saw security personnel across sister agencies, students, politicians and people from other walks of life who came from far and near to witness the event.
In his inaugural speech the IGP who was represented by the Assistant Inspector General of Police, AIG, Tijani Baba, noted that the initiative is in line with the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration’s agenda on community policing which would be employed to combat cultism and other crimes.
“The official flag-off of POCACOV which you are witnessing today, is in line with the Federal Government’s Community Policing Agenda. Through this campaign, the Nigeria Police Force will seek to effectively integrate the citizens of this great country into the police internal security framework and build a robust partnership to sensitize the public on the dangers of cultism and other violent crimes.
“Today marks another milestone in our quest to improve the policing narratives of our beloved country. In this very hall, we continue a long walk towards combating cultism and other vices in Nigeria using instrumentality of community policing. I want to urge you all to execute this task with all amount of seriousness and commitment it deserves, so as to achieve peaceful and safer communities in Nigeria.
“The Nigeria Police Force, in order to sustain these gains, have commenced the process of implementing the Community Policing principles which involves the engagement of citizens in identifying prevalent communal security threats as they affect their localities and working together with the police towards developing and implementing solutions to the identified threats in relation to cultism and anti-social behaviors.
“In effecting this, the Police Force will draw on the Provisions of the Police Act in relation to the recruitment and utilisation of Special Constables, who in this instance will be engaged as Community Policing Officers (CPOs) under the coordination of the Nigeria Police Force towards evolving a community-focused policing architecture that will completely eradicate cultism and other related crimes,” the IGP stated.
In his introduction of what POCACOV is all about, the National Coordinator of the campaign, SP, Ebere Amaraizu, who’s also the Police spokesman in Enugu said, “POCACOV is all about you” stressing that the programme is an entirely different approach to the menace of cultism by the Police Force.
“POCACOV is not about forceful engagement but interested in interacting with members of the society that have been erroneously introduced to crime.
“POCACOV is structured in such a manner that we will engage with anyone truly want to repent, de-radicalise them so they can be better members of the society and stay away from crime.
“We are going to be proactive, educating our younger generation of the dangers of cultism, crime and any other vices capable of endangering their lives.
“Unlike other programmes that have come in the past, POCACOV is structured in such a manner that it will be sustained. We are integrating the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC into the programme and their is going to be a POCACOV CDS which will help to take the message to nooks and crannies of the country.”
Also speaking for the NPP, coordinator, Kemi Okenyodo, expressed happiness for being part of the programme, even as she identified some of the principles that would enable the campaign to succeed.
According to Okenyodo, “It is with great pleasure that we identify ourselves with today’s event which is the National flag-off of the Police Campaign Against Cultism and Other Vices, POCACOV in Enugu State.
“This event is an illustration of the commitment on the part of the Nigeria Police Force to adopting community policing as a policing strategy in the country.
“The joint identification of societal problems and cross sectional consultation in a bid to allow the development of local solutions to local problems that have been identified by the society is a key message from the police to all stakeholders present today. This strengthens accountability, improves service delivery and ensures effective coordination and coherence of resources among stakeholders because the police cannot do it alone.
“For this campaign to be successful and to enjoy the cooperation and participation of the members of the community, the following key principles need to be adhered: respect for the rights of citizens, respond to public concerns about safety and feelings of safety, recognize that community members often have the best understanding of local problems, work in partnership with the community and all relevant organizations or groups to identify and address these problems, recognize that no single organization working alone can solve problems affecting the whole community.”
Earlier in his remark, Enugu state Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi commended the IGP Adamu, adding that his government would support the initiative in order to achieve the much desired results.
Represented by the Head of Service, HoS, Chidi Ezema, Governor Ugwuanyi recalled that Enugu enjoyed the rank of the most peaceful state in Nigeria when the IGP worked as its Commissioner of Police, commending the efforts of the police in ensuring that peace and security is achieved.
He said, “We’re aware of the fact that when he (the current IGP) was here as the commissioner of police, Enugu state was ranked as the most peaceful state in this country.
“It is also on record that this special programme was first initiated when he was the commissioner of police in Enugu State. We want to thank him in a special way.
“The programme we are here to flag-off today is certainly a very welcomed one and we’re going to support you and we want to appreciate the wonderful works you have been doing in this country.”
Brigadier General Owoloye who spoke on behalf of the Commander of 82 Division of the Nigerian army said, the initiative couldn’t have come at a better time than now, even as he assured of military’s support in the fight against cultism and other related crimes.
According to Owoloye, “This wouldn’t have come at a better time than now that our society is plagued by activities of cultists. We’ll be collaborating with the Nigeria Police and all other security agencies to promote the programme as part of our assistance to civil authority.
“Be rest assured of the support of the Nigerian Army and other security agencies in the fight against all forms of criminality in Enugu state and beyond.”
Representative of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), the state coordinator of the programme presented some Corp members who were inaugurated as first members of POCACOV Community Development Service, CDS, said; “In recognition of the danger posed by cultism, NYSC has been structured to contain and totally eradicate this menace in our society.”
He appreciated the efforts of the AIG, adding that the Service would collaborate with security agencies to tackle the menace.
Also speaking, veteran actor, Nkem Owoh, popularly known as “Osuofia,” who was present at the event, commended the Enugu state Police spokesperson and national coordinator of POCACOV, SP Ebere Amaraizu and the entire Police Force for their spirited efforts in the combat of crimes, saying that all other social vices and not only cultism needs to be totally eradicated in the society.
Prof. Ogunsakin, one of the dignitaries who spoke at the event said eradicating cultism in our society entails the collective effort of the people and not just the security agencies.
“The main thing is to be able to get rid of cultism and till then, everybody will be asked to play their own part and not to relent effort because it is so important. This is our vision and we’re not going to be here forever,” he noted.
High point of the event was the decoration of POCACOV Ambassadors by the Rep. of the IGP.
