Group Moves To Rid Rivers Of Cultism, Criminality

The leadership of Police Campaign Against Cultism and Other Vices (POCACOV), has paid a sensitisation visit to Mercy Girls High School, Aleto, Eleme, with a resolution to stamp out crime and violence among young people in the state.
The visit was made in conjunction with the National Coordinator of the group, CSP Ebere Amaraizu and his state counterpart, Amb. Onwuka Eke, recently in Eleme Local Government.
One of the reasons for the advocacy visit according to them was to create awareness on the danger of cultism and need to say no when faced with the temptation of committing crime.
The visit, as The Tide learnt, was in continuation of its campaign against all forms of crime and to educate students on the dangers and need to shun cultism and criminal activities.
The National Coordinator of POCACOV, CSP Amarizu, during his address, explained that POCACOV was an arm of police initiative, a volunteer group with a target to achieve a crime-free society.
He charged students on the need to become champions, so that, their families, society, religion, Nigeria and humanity at large will be proud of.
“POCACOV is a Nigeria Police Force community policing initiative and public relations tool, working with different stakeholders and multi-agencies and galvanising their supports and partnership”, he said.
He also said that enhancing participation towards problem solving was another benefit of belonging to the group.
“Whatever that we do is targeted, channelled 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 organisations and others”, he said.
The POCACOV boss further hinted that there was a goal which was to change the students, teach them, and offer the necessary help with the intention to expose them to the dangers of cultism and the need to say no to it.
The state chairman, Volunteers’ Club of POCACOV, Amb. Onwuka, also explained that the vision was to sensitise the young ones, on the dangers of cultism, crime, especially in the society.
“We chose a girls school this time because cultism is not only limited to the boys or the male, we chose Mercy Girls High School because it has a lot of population, and the school management also accepted that their children need such sensitisation, that was the reason we went there”, he said.
He did not exonerate parents from knowledge or practice of cultism, and added that it has become an open practice by all.
“This time around, cultism is no more a hidden matter, it is 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. 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”, he said.
Onwuka, who also appealed to parents, drew their attention to the kind of training they received during their young age and urged them to use same measures on their children/wards.
“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 is not easy to say, I do not want to belong again, but the police is telling us that today, if you say you do not want to belong to any secret cult again, they cover you”, he said.
The Senior Prefect of the school, Ugochukwu Mary, who responded on behalf of the students, described the visit as timely and promised the group of plans to adhere to their admonition.

By: King Onunwor