The Ogun State Police Command has officially commenced the operational activities of the Police Campaign Against Cultism and Other Vices (POCACOV), reaffirming its commitment to non-kinetic crime prevention ­strategies aimed at addressing cultism, youth vulnerability and other social vices across the state.

The initiative, which was formally flagged off at the Command Headquarters in Eleweran, Abeokuta, the state capital is in line with the directive of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, on preventive policing through sustained advocacy, public sensitisation and community engagement.

The official launch followed a strategic briefing between the Commissioner of Police in Ogun State, CP Bode Ojajuni, and the leadership of POCACOV in the state.

The delegation, led by the State Coordinator, ASP Oluborode Opeyemi, and the State Chairman, Aare Olayinka Aturamu, presented the campaign’s operational framework, achievements and roadmap for expanding grassroots sensitisation programmes across the state.

During the briefing, the police commissioner was taken through the campaign’s non-kinetic policing model, which emphasises public enlightenment, behavioural change, youth mentorship and community participation as critical tools for preventing crime, rather than relying solely on enforcement and prosecution.

The presentation also highlighted POCACOV’s grassroots interventions and outlined plans to deepen engagement with schools, communities, religious organisations and other stakeholders in a bid to discourage cultism and related criminal activities among young people.

Speaking after the briefing, Ojajuni commended members of the POCACOV team for their commitment to crime prevention and community policing, describing their efforts as commendable.

He urged the officers and volunteers to intensify their advocacy across the state, stressing the need to sustain public awareness campaigns capable of steering young people away from criminality.

“The sky is just the starting point,” the commissioner said, encouraging the team to strive for greater impact in promoting peace, security and social development in Ogun State.

The Police Campaign Against Cultism and Other Vices is a preventive policing initiative of the Nigeria Police Force designed to address the root causes of crime through public education, stakeholder engagement and youth-focused interventions.