The Commissioner of Police, Rivers State Command, CP Olugbenga Adepoju, has declared that the battle against cultism and other social vices cannot be won by the Police alone, insisting that parents, schools, religious institutions and community leaders must play a leading role in shaping the character and future of young people.

Speaking during the official relaunch of the Police Campaign Against Cultism and Other Vices (POCACOV) at the Police Officers' Mess, Old GRA, Port Harcourt, the Commissioner described cultism as a dangerous lifestyle that deceives young people with false promises of protection, wealth, friendship and influence, only to leave them trapped in violence, fear, imprisonment and, in many cases, death.

CP Adepoju warned that many youths fall victim to peer pressure and criminal influences because they are not adequately informed about the dangers of crime. He emphasized that continuous awareness campaigns such as POCACOV remain essential in steering young people away from criminality.

"If we do not teach our youths what they need to know, outsiders will teach them what they should not know," the Commissioner stated, calling on families and communities to educate children from an early age against cultism, drug abuse and other social vices.

The National Coordinator of POCACOV, SP Onne Ikwen, explained that the initiative has remained one of the Nigeria Police Force's foremost non-kinetic crime prevention strategies for over seven years. She noted that the nationwide relaunch was directed by the Inspector-General of Police to strengthen community participation in crime prevention.

Traditional ruler of Evo Kingdom, His Royal Majesty, Sir Dr. Leslie Nyebuchi Eke (JP), Eze Gbakagbaka of Evo Kingdom, commended the Nigeria Police Force for sustaining the campaign, describing POCACOV as a powerful platform for discouraging criminality and encouraging positive behavioural change among youths and adults alike.

Delivering the keynote lecture titled "From Destruction to Direction: Building a Society Free of Cultism and Social Vices," Acting Head of the Department of Political Science, Rivers State University, Dr. Anthony Egobueze, urged governments to create more employment opportunities for young people while encouraging traditional institutions, families and religious leaders to strengthen moral values. He also called on the Police to continue improving professionalism and public confidence.

The event attracted academics, students, traditional rulers, senior police officers, civil society organisations and other stakeholders, all united in the shared commitment to building a safer Rivers State through education, dialogue and community partnership.