Cultism, violent crimes : CP leads Walk Advocacy campaign against criminals

CultiBy Cyprian Ebele, Onitsha

The Anambra state Commissioner of Police, CP Ikioye Orutugu, Friday, led key stakeholders, officers and men of the Command and concerned members of the public on a walk and advocacy campaign against cultism and other social vices.

While addressing participants during the exercise, the CP read the riot act to individuals involved in cultism and other criminal activities, warning that the Command will not tolerate any act capable of threatening public peace and security across the State.

The CP noted that the Police Campaign Against Cultism and other Vices (POCACOV) remains a community-driven initiative of the Nigeria Police Force, on engagement, advocacy, prevention, and strategic partnerships rather than enforcement alone.

Among the stakeholders present at the event included the Staff of the Red Cross Society of Nigeria, Hon. Ken Okoli, Youth President General Anambra State Association of Town Unions (ASATU), Kingsley Ezika, Special Adviser to the Governor on Security (Anti-Cultism) and Chairman, POCACOV Anambra State, and comrade Surveyor Emeka Obi.

Others were, the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) Anambra State, Chief Mike Ozoemena the Managing Director, Anambra State Waste Management Authority (ASWAMA), representatives of the Keke and Bus Drivers’ Unions who pledged their support to the Police Command by sustaining the advocacy and providing timely information that would help nip in the bud cultism and other crime-related activities in the State.

The Commissioner of Police reiterated the Command’s zero-tolerance stance on cult-related violence, assuring residents that the Police will continue to deploy all lawful strategies to prevent crime, apprehend offenders, and maintain law and order throughout Anambra State.

According to the state Police  Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Tochukwu Ikenga, (SP), the  advised parents, community leaders, religious bodies, transport unions, and youth groups to join hands with the Police by guiding young people away from cultism and other vices and by promptly reporting suspicious activities to security agencies.