Maroc - NEWSLINENG.COM.NG - A La Une - 16/Sep 11:34

Ondo: POCACOV partners NUJ to combat cultism, hard drugs

A community policing group, Police Campaign Against Cultism and Other Vices (POCACOV) has sought partnership with the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Ondo State to combat cultism, hard drug abuse, thuggery and other social vices in the state. Princess Regina Mogbojuri, the State Chairman of the group, on Monday at the state council of NUJ in Akure, said the role of media could not be overemphasised. According to the group's Boss who is also a Retired top Police Officer, the campaign is set up nationwide by the office of the  Inspector-General of Police (IGP), and it uses 3 steps of sensitisation, orientation and rehabilitation."We need a robust partnership with NUJ. We are looking forward to this"The first step, sensitisation, cannot be done without the media, so it is very important in our work, hence, the request for a partnership. "There is no achievement without your collaboration, so we need to familiarise with you. We need you to be visibly seen in our project. "POCACOV is ready to contribute its quota. It is a communuty driven project We look into the society and seek the people involved. "It is more preventive than reactive. We try to curb the atrocities of cultism in our own way. The police is also involved," Mogbojuri said.Responding, Prince Leke Adegbite, Chairman, NUJ, Ondo State Council, pledged constant support for the group and stressed its importance to the society. Adegbite urged it to also focus on the level of drug abuse by youths in the state due to the vices committed under its influence. According to him, there is no youth that abuse drugs and doesn't involve in cultism and other vices directly or indirectly when under the influence."We must do everything humanly possible to supoort something like this as the media. "In many schools, there is the rampant use of drugs and the teachers can't talk to students due to fear. I appeal ma, do more in schools, catch them young"Parents too have their work cut out. In the process of growing, children succumb to peer groups and the parents are unaware or dont do enough to curb it. "Politicians also use students and youths as political thugs and encourage them to use drugs. They give them amnesty when they are arrested and incarcerated. "Also pay attention to security operatives who shield these people. A campaign like this can reduce the menace of drug abuse and cultism in Ondo State," he said. The chairman advised the group to extend the sensitisation to radio and television stations for social media "because our youths are always on social media. According to Adegbite, the campaign is very important, a great task and a thankless job, so it should be properly funded by the government.The highlight of the event was the honor of Ambassador of POCACOV presented to the chairman in recognition of his role in information dissemination, public enlightenment and advocay for social change; and also for his contributions towards promoting peace, justice and responsible media engagement in the fight against cultism and crime.#