Metro
POCACOV: IGP Tasks Residents on Friendly Preventive Policing Principles
The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has called on Nigerians, particularly the youths, to take the advantage of ‘second chance’ opportunities in the Police Campaign Against Cultism and Other Vices (POCACOV) initiatives.
The IGP’s position was made known by the newly appointed National Coordinator for POCACOV, CSP Olabisi Okuwobi, in a statement she personally signed, and made available to the National Association of Online Security News Publishers (NAOSNP) detailing her presentation when she featured on Police Radio 99.1FM, Abuja.
She said that the IGP has deep interest in the welfare of Nigerian youths, hence his efforts to strengthen POCACOV’s capacity with best international practices in preventive policing principles.
“IGP Egbetokun thereby calls on cultists to renounce their membership in unlawful groups and surrender their weapons.
“The IGP promises to facilitate a new lease of life to vulnerable criminals and give them the opportunity to become better citizens again,” she stated further.
With the new initiatives, the IGP is convinced that the root causes of crime will be better addressed while it will also be more cost effective than dealing with a full-blown criminality.
The Police Campaign Against Cultism and Other Vices will also exhibit empathy and emotional intelligence through which advocacy, awareness creation, sensitization and re-orientation via communities and school outreaches, among others, will be carried out.
The POCACOV initiatives aim at the implementation of targeted strategies to combat cultism, misuse and abuse of drugs, crime and social vices through preventive measures, proactive community engagement, in-depth collaboration with educational institutions, sports, entertainment industry, digital media circles, youth development and rehabilitation will be enhanced to foster positive police-community relations and trust-building mechanisms for the NPF.
The POCACOV National Coordinator equally enjoined perpetrators of other vices other than cultism to take advantage of the hand of friendship stretched by the police and shun unlawful practices. She revealed that POCACOV is a strong community policing and public relations tool that is very dear to the Inspector General and the Public Relations Unit of the NPF.
The Campaign further promised to be resolute in rescuing youths from the grip of cultism.
The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, has ordered the immediate withdrawal of police mobile force (PMF) personnel from private individuals nationwide.
The IGP, according to a statement issued by the Force Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, gave the directive during a meeting with PMF squadron commanders at the Force Headquarters, Abuja, on Tuesday.
He decried the assignment of PMF operatives to escort and guard duties for VIPs and private individuals across the country.
He also announced a series of reforms, including quarterly ethics and professionalism training, and the mandatory standby of fully equipped, combat-ready units.
In the statement, Adejobi said the move is part of the reorganisation of the Police Mobile Force (PMF).
“He expressed concern over the diversion of PMF personnel to non-core roles, including escort and guard duties for private individuals and VIPs, a trend which has undermined the unit’s effectiveness,” the statement read.
“To address this, the IGP has announced a series of measures including the immediate withdrawal of PMF personnel from unauthorized deployments, regular quarterly training focused on ethics and professionalism, and mandatory standby of fully equipped, combat-ready units across all Squadrons for rapid tactical support.”
According to the IGP, all PMF Commanders will be held accountable for the conduct of their personnel.
Egbetokun, however, urged them to lead proactively through regular training, inspections, and mentorship aimed at upholding discipline, respect for human rights, and operational excellence.
The police in Bauchi State have arrested a 40-year-old woman for allegedly raping a 12-year-old boy in Azare, headquarters of Katagum Local Government Area.
The State Police Command in a statement by the PPRO, CSP Ahmed Mohammed Wakil, said: “On March 1, 2025, at about 14:00 hours, a concerned citizen from Katagum Local Government Area reported a serious incident to the Divisional Police Headquarters in Azare.
“The report implicated Fatimah Ibrahim, a 40-year-old resident of Tashan Jama’are, in a troubling case involving a 12-year-old boy (names withheld), who had been employed to assist in her business.”
The victim, an Arabic pupil, was reportedly housed at the defendant’s residence, where he was subjected to inappropriate conduct over two months.
During an interview, Wakil said the victim described how the defendant, who he trusted as a maternal figure, engaged him in acts of a sexual nature, especially when her other visitors were not present.
He recounted being given a mixture of lemon juice, which he believed may have been tampered with before these incidents occurred, and indicated that he had been subjected to such behavior on multiple occasions.
Wakil said during the subsequent interrogation, the defendant admitted to her actions. He added that investigation is ongoing, adding that the suspect will undergo profiling before charged to court for the appropriate offence.
A prominent Lagos hotelier, Otunba Kunle Akinyele, tragically passed away on Saturday after collapsing during a church thanksgiving service held in honour of his wife’s 60th birthday.
The incident occurred at Christ Apostolic Church, Oke-Iyanu, Odemuyiwa District Headquarters, Egbeda, Lagos State, leaving family, friends, and well-wishers in deep shock.
In a now-viral video shared on Facebook by Ayoade Ojeniyi on Sunday, the late businessman appeared visibly distressed, gesturing frantically—apparently requesting water or an inhaler—moments before slumping while delivering his testimony.
The thanksgiving service had been organised to celebrate his wife, Deaconess Catherine Adejoke Akinyele, with a grand reception scheduled to follow immediately after at Noble Castle Events Centre, Igando.
However, those plans were abruptly halted when news broke that Akinyele had collapsed in church. Despite frantic efforts to revive him, he was pronounced dead shortly afterwards.
One of the event vendors, who shared their experience via Facebook, said they had arrived at the reception venue as early as 10 am for the party, which was set to commence by 2pm.
The vendor wrote: “The celebrant, her husband, their children, and guests had all gone to church for the thanksgiving, intending to proceed to the reception afterwards. Varieties of foods were ready, decoration set, cocktails, emu oguro, and more. The live band had already mounted about 25 speakers. This is how people die? I can’t even think of asking for my balance for the job.”
