Police task NANS on tackling cultism, substance abuse among students

By John Ogunsemore

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has been charged to continue to collaborate closely with the Nigeria Police Force to combat cultism, substance abuse and other social vices among students and youths.

Assistant Commissioner of Police, ACP Olabisi Okuwobi gave the charge while playing host to a NANS delegation which paid a courtesy visit to the Police Campaign Against Cultism and Other Vices (POCACOV) office at Force Headquarters, Abuja on Wednesday.

Led by Executive Director of Administration and Planning of NANS, Comrade Oladimeji Uthman, on behalf of President, Olushola Oladoja, the delegation embarked on the visit for strategic discussions on strengthening collaboration with the police to tackle youth involvement in crime and social vices.

Okuwobi appreciated the proactive role of NANS in youth mobilisation for national development.

She stated that POCACOV remains an integral driver of the Inspector-General of Police’s (IGP) Crime Prevention Agenda which focuses on community partnership and youth engagement, education and sensitisation, and gender inclusion and youth empowerment,
as sustainable pathways to safer communities.

The senior police officer emphasised that the synergy between POCACOV and NANS aligns with the IGP’s vision of “policing through prevention, which is policing for the people” thereby ensuring that Nigerian youths and students become key stakeholders in building a safer and more secure society.

The student leaders applauded POCACOV’s strides in crime prevention and expressed their readiness to collaborate and partner on projects that will redirect young people from crime, drugs, cultism, and other negative influences.

In recognition of her dedication and commitment, ACP Okuwobi was decorated as an Anti-Social Vices Ambassador by the NANS delegation.

Other members of the delegation included Comrade Usman Idris, Director of Protocol, Comrade Eegunjobi Samuel, NANCES National President, Amb. Abdulrazak Ibrahim, Chairperson, ZETSI Africa, Comrade Mujaheed Kode, NAUS National Stakeholder, and Comrade Abdulazeez Hauwa, Special Adviser on Gender Affairs.