By Isaac Mission
The Enugu State Police Command has called on parents and guardians to take a more active role in raising their children as part of efforts to combat hard drug abuse, cultism and other forms of youth-related crime.
Speaking on Tuesday during the re-launch of the Police Campaign Against Cultism and Other Vices (POCACOV) in Enugu, the Commissioner of Police, Mamman Giwa, said the responsibility of shaping children’s character should not be left solely to schools, communities or security agencies. The event also featured a stakeholders’ meeting with the theme, “Strengthening Community Partnership for Sustainable Crime Prevention.”
Giwa stressed that the home remains the foundation for teaching discipline, moral values and responsible behaviour. He advised parents to monitor the company their children keep and address signs of misconduct early before they develop into more serious social problems.
He described hard drug abuse as one of the key warning signs that families should never ignore, noting that timely intervention can prevent many young people from drifting into crime.
The police commissioner recalled that POCACOV was first introduced in Enugu through the efforts of former police spokesperson, Ebere Amaraizu, adding that the command has continued to sustain the initiative through community engagement and preventive policing.
According to him, the programme has helped redirect vulnerable and drug-dependent youths through counselling, awareness campaigns and other social intervention strategies aimed at encouraging rehabilitation and productive living.
Giwa reaffirmed the command’s commitment to supporting POCACOV and expanding community policing initiatives across the state. He noted that non-violent approaches, backed by emotional intelligence and community participation, often produce better results in addressing security challenges.
He also appealed to traditional rulers, youth leaders and other stakeholders to encourage qualified young people to join the Nigeria Police Force, saying increased youth participation would strengthen community policing and crime prevention.
The commissioner further acknowledged the support of the Enugu State Government, which he said has provided vehicles and other logistics to improve policing operations across the state.
Also speaking, the National Coordinator of POCACOV, Orvenonne Ikwen, said the initiative focuses on preventive, non-violent strategies to reduce crime by engaging vulnerable youths before they become involved in criminal activities.
She identified peer pressure and hard drug abuse as major factors contributing to cultism and juvenile delinquency, stressing that continuous public awareness and positive youth engagement remain effective tools for reducing crime and promoting safer communities.
