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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Crime & Justice

Rivers Police Chief Urges Schools, Parents to Combat Crime

From The Punch · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • The Rivers State Police Command has urged schools, parents, and community leaders to actively participate in combating drug abuse, cultism, and other social vices.
  • Commissioner of Police Olugbenga Adepoju emphasized that shaping young people's values and monitoring their associations are crucial for future crime prevention.
  • The Police Campaign Against Cultism and Other Vices (POCCACOV) initiative was relaunched to foster collaboration and public engagement in creating a crime-free society.

Rivers State Police Commissioner Olugbenga Adepoju has called on schools, parents, and community leaders to join forces against drug abuse, cultism, and other social vices plaguing the state. During the statewide relaunch of the Police Campaign Against Cultism and Other Vices (POCCACOV) in Port Harcourt, Adepoju stressed that effective policing requires collective input from all stakeholders.

Let us pay closer attention to our children because shaping young people is to preventing crime in the future.

— Olugbenga AdepojuThe State Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adepoju, emphasized the importance of parental and community involvement in shaping young people to prevent future crime.

Adepoju highlighted the dangers of cultism, describing it as a deceptive path that promises protection and influence but ultimately leads to fear, violence, and regret. He urged parents and guardians to pay closer attention to their children's associations and to instill good values, encourage honesty, and provide mentorship. "Let us pay closer attention to our children because shaping young people is to preventing crime in the future," Adepoju stated.

The Commissioner also encouraged students and young people to pursue their dreams and be mindful of their friendships. He asserted that their lives and aspirations are more significant than any cult group, and true achievement lies in knowledge, skill, integrity, and good character, rather than carrying weapons. He noted that the POCCACOV initiative has been instrumental in curbing crime and drug abuse while shaping the youth.

Let me say to our students and our young people here, including adults who engage in crime and criminality and take to drugs and other vices, your life has value. Your dreams are bigger than any cult group. The greatest achievement is not carrying a weapon; it is carrying knowledge, skill, integrity, and good character.

— Olugbenga AdepojuThe Commissioner addressed students and young people, urging them to value their lives and dreams over criminal activities and cult affiliations.

The relaunch aimed to remind stakeholders of the initiative's importance and the need for continued partnerships. The National Coordinator of POCCACOV, Orvrnonne Ikwen, emphasized that protecting lives and property is a shared responsibility involving public engagement. "We cannot do it alone. We cannot continue to," Ikwen stated, underscoring the necessity of community involvement.

We cannot do it alone. We cannot continue to

— Orvrnonne IkwenThe National Coordinator of POCCACOV highlighted the need for public engagement and partnership in crime prevention efforts.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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