Edith CHUKU
The Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Mr Olugbenga Adepoju, has emphasized the need for parents to teach their children values, noting that the fight against cultism and other social vices should begin at homes and not police stations.
Adepoju said parents, schools, religious organisations and community leaders have crucial responsibilities in building positive values and guiding young people away from harmful behaviours.
The CP started this on Wednesday, during the official relaunch of the Police Campaign Against Cultism and Other Vices POCACOV, held at the Police Officers’ Mess, Old GRA, Port Harcourt.
The event held at the Police Officers’ Mess, Old GRA, Port Harcourt, was attended by pupils, students, traditional rulers, senior police officers, civil society organisations and other stakeholders.
The CP called for stronger collaboration among stakeholders to address the root causes of cultism and other social problems, noting that prevention through proper upbringing and community involvement remains key to creating a safer society.
He described cultism as a destructive lifestyle that lures youths with false promises of protection, wealth, friendship and influence but ultimately leads to violence, fear, imprisonment and death.
According to him, many young people become victims of peer pressure and criminal elements due to ignorance, stressing that sustained awareness campaigns remained essential in protecting them from falling into crime.
“We all know that cultism is not a sign of courage, power or popularity. It is a dangerous pact that deceives young people with false promises of protection, friendship, wealth or influence. In reality, it leads to fear, violence, regret and often death.
“Many youths are being influenced by peer groups and criminal elements because they are not adequately informed about the dangers of crime. Programmes like POCACOV have helped shape the minds of our students and youths, and we cannot afford to stop now.
“If we do not teach our youths what they need to know, outsiders will teach them what they should not know. It is therefore a clarion call for parents, schools and communities to educate children from an early stage so they do not become victims of drug abuse, cultism and other social vices.”
Adepoju explained that many youths who join cult groups in search of respect and acceptance often end up trapped in a cycle of violence, intimidation and criminality, with some losing their education, freedom or lives.
Earlier, the National Coordinator of POCACOV, Superintendent of Police Onne Ikwen, said the initiative had existed for more than seven years and remained one of the Nigeria Police Force’s foremost non-kinetic strategies for crime prevention.
According to her, the relaunch was aimed at reminding stakeholders of the importance of community engagement in tackling insecurity.
“The Inspector-General of Police has directed this relaunch to remind everyone of the importance of engaging members of the public because security is everybody’s business. The police cannot do it alone.
“Before today’s relaunch, we visited schools and non-governmental organisations that are doing remarkable work. Many activities are already ongoing in Rivers State, and we appreciate the commissioner of police for his hospitality and support.”
Ikwen also appreciated traditional rulers, students and other stakeholders for attending the event, stressing that crime prevention requires a combination of kinetic and non-kinetic approaches through dialogue, education and community participation.
On his part, traditional ruler of Evo Kingdom, His Royal Majesty, Dr Leslie Nyebuchi Eke (JP), Eze Gbakagbaka of Evo Kingdom, commended the inspector-general of police for directing the nationwide relaunch of POCACOV.
He described the initiative as a vital platform for discouraging criminality and encouraging repentance among those involved in crime.
“The message of POCACOV is not only for the youths. It is also for adults involved in various social vices. Everyone here has a responsibility to take this message across Rivers State and Nigeria as a whole.”
