NPF suspends POCACOV activities with immediate effect

*As police plan strategic revamp, restructuring

Etim Ekpimah

The Nigeria Police Force has ordered the immediate suspension of the activities of the Police Campaign Against Cultism and Other Vices (POCACOV), a community policing initiative and public relations tool within the Force Public Relations Department of the Nigeria Police Force.

According to a statement issued by ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, Force Public Relations Officer, Force Headquarters, Abuja, on Thursday, this decision came as part of a strategic effort to conduct a comprehensive review of the unit and reposition it for heightened efficiency and enhanced service delivery.

“Acknowledging the crucial role of POCACOV in advancing community engagement and tackling social vices, the Force recognizes the necessity of halting all pending programs and outreaches, initiated by the present national coordinator, CSP Ebere Amarizu, to facilitate a thorough assessment and restructuring of the initiative to spread across the six geopolitical zones, each with its respective coordinator.

“This temporary suspension aims to realign POCACOV’s strategies, ensuring they effectively address contemporary security challenges and holistically serve Nigerian communities better than its present localised and ineffective campaigns,” the statement read.

Adejobi said that during this period of suspension, the Nigeria Police Force reaffirmed its unyielding commitment to safeguarding lives and property across the nation, adding that the revitalization of POCACOV was to reinforce its role as an integral community policing instrument, strengthening the bond between the Force and the Nigerian communities.

“Updates regarding the resumption of POCACOV programmes and outreach activities will be communicated to the public in due course as the Force continues to prioritize safety, security, and community partnership,” Adejobi said in the statement.