Stephen Olufemi Oni, Ilorin

The Kwara State Police Command has intensified efforts to curb cultism and other social vices among students across the State, urging young people to reject criminal influences and embrace values that will secure their future.

The charge was made during the Police Campaign Against Cultism and Other Vices (POCACOV) Security Awareness Programme for Schools held on Wednesday at the Police Officers’ Mess in Ilorin, where security agencies, legal practitioners, educators and community leaders gathered to sensitise students on the dangers of cultism, drug abuse, cybercrime and other anti-social behaviours.

Speaking at the event, the Commissioner of Police, Kwara State Command, Adekimi Ojo, said schools must remain safe spaces where students can pursue their education without fear of violence or criminal activities.

He noted that the Nigeria Police Force was placing greater emphasis on preventive policing through education and community engagement rather than relying solely on arrests and prosecution.

“The Nigeria Police Force has increasingly embraced preventive policing as a key strategy for reducing crime. While law enforcement remains an essential responsibility of the Police, we also recognise that preventing crime through education, partnership and community engagement is equally important,” Ojo said.

The Commissioner of Police warned students against joining cult groups or engaging in drug abuse, internet fraud, violence and other criminal acts capable of destroying their future.

“Your future is one of your greatest assets. Every decision you make today has the potential to shape your tomorrow. Reject cultism, drug abuse, internet fraud, violence and every activity that can destroy your dreams,” he advised.

He also urged parents and teachers to play more active roles in mentoring young people by instilling discipline, moral values and respect for the law.

Ojo stressed that tackling insecurity requires collaboration among security agencies, schools, parents, religious organisations, traditional institutions and other stakeholders.

He commended the State Coordinator of POCACOV, ASP Ibrahim Muritala, alongside members of the initiative for taking security awareness campaigns directly to schools and communities.

Earlier, the POCACOV State Coordinator, ASP Ibrahim Muritala, described the programme as a strategic investment in the future of Nigerian children, saying schools should be centres of learning, character development and moral excellence rather than breeding grounds for criminality.

According to him, the initiative was designed to prevent crime through advocacy, mentorship and positive engagement with young people before they become involved in criminal activities.

“Today’s programme is not merely another gathering; it is a strategic investment in the future of our children and our nation. Prevention is always better than cure,” Muritala said.

He urged students to resist peer pressure and remain focused on education, discipline, integrity and respect for constituted authority.

Addressing participants, former Police Public Relations Officer of the Kwara State Command, retired SP Ajayi Okasanmi, traced the history of cultism in Nigeria and warned that what began as an intellectual movement decades ago had evolved into violent criminal gangs associated with murder, armed robbery, kidnapping, drug abuse and political violence.

He identified peer pressure, poor parental supervision, unemployment, drug abuse, weak moral values and social media influence among factors fuelling cultism and other social vices.

Okasanmi called on parents, schools, government and community leaders to strengthen guidance, counselling, youth empowerment and moral education while encouraging students to report suspicious activities to security agencies.

Also speaking, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Yusuf Ali, represented by Obayomi Azeez Olaitan of Yusuf Ali & Co., cautioned students against being deceived by promises of protection or influence made by cult groups.

“Don’t allow yourself to get lost in these groups because the punishment will take away your future. It is not worth it,” he warned.

Ali maintained that security is a collective responsibility and urged members of the public to promptly report suspicious movements and criminal activities to relevant authorities.

“The real security issues are before all of us. Everybody has a role to play. If you notice suspicious activities or strange movements in your community, you should raise the alarm,” he said.

The programme featured presentations by representatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and other security experts, all of whom emphasised the need for sustained awareness campaigns to keep schools free from cultism, violence, drug abuse and other social vices.