A community based group in Rivers State known as Ikwerre/Etche Youth Unity Forum(IEYUF) Worldwide in partnership with the Police Campaign Against Cultism and Other Vices(POCACOV), yesterday at County Grammer School, Ikwerre/Etche, Port Harcourt, conducted a one-day peace and unity forum with the theme ‘Peace Be Still’.
Ikwerre/Etchie Youth Unity Forum Worldwide is a vibrant peace and dedicated youth based group in ikwerre/Etchie Community working with the Police Campaign Against Cultism and Other Vices and whose activities have brought peace, security, unity and development in Ikwerre/Etchie communities Rivers state.
Ikwerre/Etchie communities houses Elele community which has remained the intervention base of the POCACOV initiative.
The programme of event commenced with a prayer and peace talk drawn from the scriptures that peace should be still by Evangelist Divine Chigbo of Freedom for all Nations Ministry.
He spoke on the need for the existence of peace to continue to reign in the land and commended the dedicated spirit of peace and unity of the Youth Unity Forum in Ikwerre/Etchie which according to him is worthy of emulation.
The Rivers state Commissioner of Police, Joseph Mukan represented by the 2/iC Area commander of the Nigeria Police Force Isiokpo Area Command Ikwerre Local Government Area, Rivers state CSP Oparaoka George tasked youths to always be law abiding and avoid taking laws into their hands in order to continually maintain peace and attract devopments in their areas.
He also charged youths to identify with POCACOV, the initiative of the force under IGP Mohammed Abubakar Adamu aimed at saving Nigerian children and youths from the claws of cultism and other vices and for a peaceful and safer communities.
In his welcome address, the President of Ikwerre/Etche Youth Unity Forum(IEYUF)Worldwide, Amb. Gideon Okpaka who also is a stakeholder with the Police Campaign Against Cultism and Other Vices(POCACOV) in Rivers state, thanked all for finding time to attend the all important event which is in line with the community peace building programme of the POCACOV initiative and assured that the body under his watch will continue to collaborate with POCACOV and other well meaning group, individual and stakeholders to ensure that peace continue to be still in Ikwerre/Etchie communities and Rivers state at large.
In his goodwill message, the National Coordinator Police Campaign Against Cultism and Other Vices(POCACOV) CSP Ebere Amaraizu represented by the Rivers state POCACOV Coordinator DSP Abdullahi Yusuf Idi commended the collaborative efforts of the youth body with POCACOV and pointing out that the peace achieved in Ikwerre/Etchie areas are as a result of their commitment and dedication since they embraced POCACOV.
“I want to place here on record that the youth unity forum has lived up to their responsibility at ensuring that peace is achieved and sustained. Through their support, POCACOV has conducted many renunciations and submissions of arms hence the peace in this area,” he said.
So many important dignitaries graced the occassion amongst whom are His Royal Majesty Ochie ENB Opurum the Ochie of Etche Land, Chief Dr Mrs Grace Nwenike, community leaders, clergies, non-governmental organizations, POCACOV stakeholders, ambassadors, volunteers amongst all.
The event witnessed presentation of awards and recognitions to deserving sons and daughters and well-meaning individuals that have contributed in one way or the other in the realization of peace in Ikwerre/Etchie land among whom is DSP Abdullahi Yusuf Idi of the Police Campaign Against Cultism and Other Vices(POCACOV) for his humanitarian service in community peace building.
