The Nigeria Police Force has ordered the immediate suspension of the activities of the Police Campaign Against Cultism and Other Vices (POCACOV) with immediate effect.
The Force spokesperson, Muyiwa Adejobi in a statement on Thursday, said the decision to suspend the body is part of a strategic effort to conduct a comprehensive review of the unit and reposition it for heightened efficiency and enhanced service delivery.
TheFact Daily notes that POCACOV is a community policing initiative and public relations tool within the Force Public Relations Department of the Nigeria Police Force, aimed at saving youths from the claws of cultism and other vices through advocacy, awareness creation, sensitization, and re-orientation. It was launched in March 2020 under the leadership of the then police chief, IGP Mohammed Adamu.
“Acknowledging the crucial role of POCACOV in advancing community engagement and tackling social vices, the Force recognizes the necessity of halting all pending programs and outreaches, initiated by the present national coordinator, CSP Ebere Amarizu, to facilitate a thorough assessment and restructuring of the initiative to spread across the six geopolitical zones, each with its respective coordinator”, the statement said, adding that the suspension which is temporary aims to realign POCACOV’s strategies, ensuring they effectively address contemporary security challenges and holistically serve Nigerian communities better than its present localised and ineffective campaigns.
Adejobi assured that updates regarding the resumption of POCACOV programmes and outreach activities will be communicated to the public in due course as the Force continues to prioritize safety, security, and community partnership.
