Determined in her quest to eradicate cultism, criminality and other vices from Rivers State, and Nigeria at large, Police Campaign Against Cultism and Other Vices, POCACOV, paid a sensitization visit to Mercy Girls High School Aleto, Eleme, to create awareness on the danger of cultism and need to say no.
The visit, which is in continuation of her campaign against all forms of criminality, was in a bid to educate students on the danger and need to shun cultism and criminal activities.
The national coordinator of POCACOV, CSP Ebere Amarizu, during his address explained that POCACOV is an arm of Police initiative, a volunteer group aiming towards achieving a crime free society.
The CSP charged students of Mercy Girls High School to become champions that their family, society, religion, Nigeria and humanity at large will be proud of tomorrow by not involving in cultism and other vices.
While enlightening the students, teachers and principal on the vision behind the formation of POCACOV, he said, “POCACOV is a Nigeria Police Force community policing initiative and public relation tool, working with different stakeholders and multi-agencies and galvanizing their supports and partnership as well as enhancing their participation towards problem solving.
“Whatever that we do is targeted, channeled towards problem solving, and this time around we are doing it through a non-kinetic measure, that is, not applying force, and we are working with different stakeholders; parents are involved, teachers, school owners, government and non- governmental organization, traditional rulers, trade based organisations are involved, our goal is to charge you, teach you, urge you, help you and expose to you the dangers of cultism, so you say no to it.”
During an exclusive interview with Tide Newspaper, the state chairman, Volunteers’ Club of POCACOV, Amb. Eke Onwuka said, “the vision is to sensitize the young ones, that’s the school age and general public, to sensitize them on the danger of cultism, criminalities, especially the unlawful societies.
“We chose girls school this time because cultism is not only limited to the boys or the male, we chose Mercy Girls High School because they have a lot of population, and the school management also accepted that their children need such sensitization, that’s the reason we went there.
“You understand that cultism is not only among the children, or school age or the youth, parents are part of it. this time around cultism is no more a hidden matter, it’s open in the public, the society has gone so bad, in Rivers State as you know, if you visit some places, all you see there is cult related activities everywhere, so it has gone so deep to the extent that people are no more free to move, even in broad day light, you see young men fighting with dangerous weapons, these are the problems we are having.”
Onwuka who made an appeal to parents said, “they should remember how they were trained when they were growing up, so, if they remember how they were trained before they become what they are today, they should also use that pattern, that culture, moral upbringing, let them inculcate it into their own children, and not allow them indulge in criminal activities.”
He continued that, “POCACOV is an arm of police initiative. What the police is saying is that if you are a cultist, denounce, and start to live a good life so that you become a champion and become a developer of the society positively. The understanding is that even if you are a cultist and you denounce cultism, the police is there to protect you, because often times it’s not easy to say I don’t want to belong again, but the police is telling us that today, if you say you don’t want to belong to any cult again, the police is giving you coverage that nothing will happen to you, so, you are free, everybody that is a member today is free to denounce cultism and the police is there to give you that coverage.
The state chairman further gave a charge, that, “we are asking stakeholders, youth leaders, business expertise, entrepreneurs, market women, traders, transport workers union to join and be part of this campaign, it is not for selected people, everybody must be a partner.”
Students took turn to appreciation POCACOV for the sensitization which they described as timely. Speaking on their behalf, the senior prefect of the school, Ugochukwu Mary Blessing, said, “it was okay and we know that the information you have embedded in us today is of great value to the society and to us. We are now more aware of the effect and penalties of cultism and other vices and we will try our best not to fall into any of these vices. Thank you all for this seminar which you have created your time for, thank you for sparing your time to present this seminar to us today, thank you.
SP Emmanuel Ifeanyi, DPO, Akpajo Police station while describing the programme as marvelous and excellent, said, “I’m glad about it and it’s educating the children, for their future tomorrow, for them to be well learned and cultured in their behavioral attitude.
He said he expects the children to, “say no to cultism and be of good behavior, and for them to be the future of tomorrow, they are the candle of the home, to keep the candle light burning and not to quench it for the betterment of tomorrow, because they are the hope of Nigeria tomorrow.
Also, SP Nsikak Bassey, DCO, Eleme Division of the Nigeria Police Force, added that, “I think it’s one of the best innovation that has come of age, you know, when you meet these children at this level, where they are trying to mold up, that’s when you can correct them, that’s when you can now direct them at the right part, because if they miss this step they are on the other side.
“I have a very high expectation because meeting them at this point it gladdens my heart, because timing in any venture timing is something you consider, if you time it right, you pass the information as at the time they need it, you are able to mold them.”
He further encouraged them to, “take their studies seriously, not to compromise their future for anything, don’t compromise, this is the stage that you build your tomorrow, and if you toy with it now, there is no way of repairing it.”
Some of the dignitaries present during the event were, Mr. Boaz Laz Okenwa, Engr. Ifeoma Chijioke, Dr. Stanley Obi, Rev. Fr. Justine Njoku, Sir. Theophilus Ezeonodu, Amb. Mrs. Orusoso Lawson Isokariari, JP, Principal, Parents, Teachers among others.
