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 curb hard drug abuse, cultism and other social vices among youths.
Commissioner of Police, Mamman Giwa, made the appeal during the re-launch of the Police Campaign Against Cultism and Other Vices (POCACOV) in Enugu, alongside a stakeholders’ meeting themed “Strengthening Community Partnership for Sustainable Crime Prevention.”
The police commissioner stressed that the home remains the foundation for instilling discipline, moral values and responsible behaviour, noting that parents should not leave the responsibility of shaping children’s character solely to schools, communities or security agencies.
He urged parents to monitor their children, discourage association with bad company and address delinquent behaviour early, identifying hard drug abuse as one of the key warning signs requiring prompt intervention.
CP Giwa noted that POCACOV was first introduced in Enugu through the efforts of former Police Public Relations Officer, Ebere Amaraizu, and said the Command has continued to sustain the initiative through community engagement, counselling and preventive policing programmes aimed at rehabilitating vulnerable youths.
He reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to supporting non-kinetic crime prevention strategies and appealed to traditional rulers, youth leaders and community stakeholders to encourage qualified young people to join the Nigeria Police Force.
The police commissioner also commended the Enugu State Government for providing operational vehicles and logistics to enhance policing across the state.
Speaking at the event, the National Coordinator of POCACOV, Orvenonne Ikwen, said the initiative promotes community-based approaches to crime prevention by addressing the root causes of youth involvement in criminal activities.
She identified peer pressure and hard drug abuse as major contributors to cultism and youth delinquency, stressing that sustained public enlightenment and positive engagement with young people remain essential to reducing crime and promoting safer communities.
