The Ogun State Command of the Nigeria Police Force on 24th November, 2020 conducted her Police Campaign Against Cultism and Other Vices(POCACOV) summit, during which the community driven programme was also launched in the state.
Delivering his welcome address, the Commissioner of Police Ogun State, Edward Awolowo Ajogun, commended the Nigeria Police Force and the Inspector General of Police on the POCACOV initiative which is first of its kind and involving stakeholders in problem solving.
He thanked stakeholders for identifying with the police through POCACOV in order to make our society safe and secured and added that “some parts of the state are having challenges of cult related issues, although the command has been on it, winning the fight and through POCACOV, it will be mitigated through stakeholders involvement and participation.”
He maintained that any country that entrusts its future in the hands of youths imbued with the very essence and orientation of cultism is without the right compass leading to growth and development and pointing out that the country, need youths with the right values and orientation to take the country to greater height of competitiveness, recognition and respect in the comity of nations.
He pointed out that if the nation fails to reorient with a view to turning into better citizens, these errant youths whose way of life is celebration of blood letting, gangsterism, secret rituals and voodoo, their nefarious activities will ground the country to a halt.
He advised that cultism and other vices has to be confronted with all the seriousness it deserves through stakeholders’ participation and involvement as exemplified by POCACOV.
In his opening remark, the Chairman of the occassion and the Vice Chancellor, Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Professor Felix Kolawole Salako thanked the Inspector General of Police, IGP M.A Adamu and the Nigeria Police Force for the wonderful initiative which has brought every stakeholder together with a view to resolving the issue of cultism and other vices and assured that his institution will continue to partner with the police especially in this course for a safe and secured society.
In giving the overview of POCACOV during the occassion, the National Coordinator POCACOV, CSP Ebere Amaraizu, explained how the programme emanated as well as the thematic areas of the programme and added that POCACOV is a community driven program as well as a public relations tool of the Nigeria Police Force involving different stakeholders and whose main objectives is to save the Nigerian children and youths from the claws of cultism and other vices through value reorientation and engagement to offer strategic leadership direction through advocacy, awareness creation and sensitizations, mentoring and reorientation.
He further explained that the programme since its national flag off on 29/8/2019 and national launch in Abuja on 12/3/2020 by the Inspector General of Police, has impacted positively on Nigerian children and youths through youth value reorientation.
In his speech as the guest speaker during the occassion, CP Emmanuel Ojukwu (Rtd.) attributed high rate of cultism and other vices in Nigeria to corrupt practices, injustice and broken homes as some of the factors responsible and pointing out that Nigeria has lost its values of integrity, diligence and hardwork resulting to youths seeking justice through cult involvement.
Ojukwu blamed the situation of impunity by some government officials and public office holders as being responsible for delinquency among the Nigerian youths.
“Nigerian adults, parents and persons of high positions have not been acting very fine. We see a lot of action of impunity, the value of lives have been depreciated, so young men are looking for escape ways. They are looking for how to socialize, fraternize and get along. They are looking for how to revenge against injustices in the country,” he said.
He concluded that we can reduce the incidences of cultism and other vices as exemplified by POCACOV by discouraging the young ones from getting involved and also talk to those who want to get out of it.
The Special Adviser to Ogun state governor on education, Mrs Ronke Soyombo appreciated the summit and the launch of POCACOV which she said will go a long way towards setting our children and young ones free and assured that “the state government through the ministry of education will partner and work with POCACOV the wonderful initiative of the Nigeria Police Force.”
A woman leader and stakeholder, Chief Mrs Alaba Lawson the Iyalode of Egbaland thanked the Inspector General of Police, IGP Mohammed Abuabakar Adamu on the good Initiative and advised parents, caregivers and guardians to monitor their children and wards and always set a right platform for them.
The governor of the state, Prince Dapo Abiodun represented by his Special Adviser on Security, AIG Olusola Subair(Rtd.), thanked the Inspector General of Police on the POCACOV initiative and assured that the state government will continue to support the programme and also using its elements to ensure that cultism and other vices are mitigated in the state.
“This is a wonderful initiative which is aimed at cutting the supply line. This is unique and we have to support the programme,” he added.
Stakeholders from all walks of life in Ogun state attended the epoch making event and the highlight of the event was the official inauguration of the state chapter of the POCACOV/NYSC Community Development Service(CDS) and cutting of the POCACOV cake which marked the launch of the programme.
