By BANNERNEWS Reporter, Calabar
Inspector-General of Police, Mr Tunji Disu, has commended the National Coordinator of the Police Campaign Against Cultism and Other Vices (POCACOV), Superintendent of Police (Dr) Overonne Ikwen, for her efforts in promoting peace and combating cultism and other social vices across the country.
Disu expressed his appreciation while reacting to Ikwen’s recent peace campaign ahead of the Osun State governorship election, where POCACOV, in collaboration with the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), organised a two-day public walkathon to sensitise youths and other stakeholders against electoral violence.
The campaign formed part of POCACOV’s broader efforts to engage young people through schools, churches, youth groups, organisations and the mass media in discouraging cultism, drug abuse, violence and other criminal activities.
Commenting on the Osun peace walk, Ikwen said the initiative was aimed at promoting peaceful participation and credible elections.
“Together we walked for peace, unity and credible elections in Osun State. We reaffirmed our collective commitment to rejecting electoral violence and promoting peaceful participation in the election,” she said.
In a social media post congratulating Ikwen on the campaign, Disu described her performance as commendable and said he was proud of her and the POCACOV team.
“Nice one! That’s just the way to go. You are doing great, and I am proud of you and the whole team,” the IGP said.
He urged her to sustain the momentum, assuring her that her efforts were being recognised.
“Keep up the excellent work. We see you, we appreciate you, and we’re proud to have you serving and protecting our neighbourhood,” Disu added.
Ikwen, a Cross River-born artificial intelligence expert, had also led her team to Lagos State, where they collaborated with the Executive Chairman of Apapa-Iganmu Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Hon. Jimoh Olawale Saliu, to strengthen the fight against cultism, drug abuse and other social vices.
Saliu commended POCACOV’s preventive policing initiatives and stressed the need for sustained stakeholder engagement to address youth-related security challenges in the community.
Ikwen, in turn, applauded the council’s youth-focused empowerment programmes and reaffirmed POCACOV’s commitment to working with communities, local governments and other stakeholders through advocacy, mentorship and positive youth engagement to prevent crime.
