The Sokoto State Police Command has inaugurated the state chapter of the Police Campaign Against Cultism and Other Vices, urging stronger community participation in preventing crime and addressing social vices among youths.
The inauguration, held on Saturday at the command’s auditorium, was presided over by the Commissioner of Police, CP Hayatu Shaffa, who called on members of the chapter to remain committed to promoting peace and security across the state.
The initiative seeks to tackle cultism, drug abuse, political thuggery, cybercrime and youth violence through public enlightenment, community engagement and collaboration with relevant stakeholders.
The ceremony attracted district heads representing the three senatorial districts of Sokoto State on behalf of the Sultan of Sokoto, as well as representatives of the Department of State Services, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.
Traditional and religious leaders, civil society organisations, youth groups, market associations, transport unions, philanthropists and other community representatives also attended the event.
Speaking at the inauguration, Shaffa identified public enlightenment, community engagement and positive youth development through collaboration with relevant stakeholders as the three pillars of POCACOV.
He urged members of the newly inaugurated chapter to be proactive in educating young people about the dangers of cultism and other social vices.
The commissioner said the success of the initiative would depend on the collective efforts of security agencies, community leaders, parents and other stakeholders.
He assured the chapter of the command’s support and urged its members to discharge their responsibilities diligently.
Shaffa also called on residents and relevant organisations to embrace the campaign as part of efforts to strengthen preventive policing and address the root causes of crime at the grassroots.
The newly inaugurated chapter is headed by ASP Ibrahim Mustapha Muhammad as state coordinator, while Abubakar Magaji Yabo will serve as state chairman.
Other officers include DSP Ahmad Rufa’i as state technical adviser; CSP Kabiru Ahmad as legal adviser; Kabiru Muhammad Mahe as secretary-general; Saidat Hussaini as organising secretary; Maryam Abubakar Binji as gender-based violence officer; and Khadija Raji Abdullahi as mental health and psychosocial support officer.
Additional members include Abdulrazaq Shehu, Ibrahim M. Gada, Kabiru Garba, Bashar Gandi, Comrade Hussaini Muhammad, Sakina Ahmad, Lawal Ahmad and Abdulkarim Abdul, while Alhaji Nura Attajiri was appointed patron.
The district heads of Binji, Gandi and Ungushi were also designated as zonal focal persons for Sokoto Central, Sokoto East and Sokoto South Senatorial Districts, respectively.
In his remarks, Yabo thanked the commissioner for his leadership and support towards the establishment of the chapter.
He described POCACOV as a preventive initiative designed to discourage cultism, drug abuse, youth violence and other harmful behaviours through sustained awareness campaigns and community participation.
Yabo said the challenges confronting young people required a coordinated response involving families, educational institutions, government agencies and community leaders.
“The challenges confronting young people, including drug abuse, cultism, political thuggery, cybercrime and the dangerous pursuit of quick wealth, cannot be addressed by the Police alone,” he said.
He stressed the need for parents, schools, traditional and religious leaders, businesses, civil society organisations, and young people to help address the problems.
According to him, the initiative would be more effective if communities actively identified and addressed factors exposing youths to criminal activities.
Yabo added that the campaign’s success would depend on the commitment of the police, members of the chapter, and sustained support from communities and other stakeholders.
He commended the representatives of the Sultan of Sokoto and other participants for their contributions to the inauguration, expressing optimism that the initiative would strengthen cooperation between security agencies and residents.
The chapter is expected to promote community-based crime prevention by raising awareness of the consequences of social vices, encouraging positive youth development and strengthening collaboration between the police and local communities.