Juliana Francis
The National Coordinator Police Campaign Against Cultism and Other Vices (POCACOV), a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), Mr. Ebere Amaraizu, has said that most young Nigerians join cult and violent groups because they did not know the goldmine that was in them.
According to Amaraizu, “young minds are pressured to join cult or violent groups because they do not know the goldmine that is in them. They join these groups, which its consequences are not known because they are looking for a way out of environmental, social and family pressures. They’re looking for a direction through which they can make it in life and which negates the principles of good coping skills hence negative challenges in our community.”
The police chief further explains that coping skills have been identified as a panacea to healthy living, which would help to impact positively on the lives and existence of young minds, including adults, thereby enhancing community peace, safety and security.
Amaraizu made this known on May 7, while interfacing with some stakeholders in a community peace building of the POCACOV volunteer club as part of the program of action lined up for the inauguration of the POCACOV Advisory Board and POCACOV Religious Consultative Forum by the Catholic Bishop of Awka Diocese Lord Bishop Paulinus Ezeokafor in Awka .
He explained that young minds, as well as adults should be exposed to good coping skills, strategies and techniques which would help them handle difficult emotions, which usually propel them to plunge into an aspect of lawlessness such as cultism, violence and other vices, decrease stress as well as establish and maintain sense of internal order which is a panacea to healthy community.
He further said: “Good coping skills enable one to tolerate one another and promote a peaceful environment. Rather than some young minds and adults embracing good coping skills, they indulge in negative coping skills of the use of alcohol, drugs and other risky or aggressive behaviours as measures to cope with anxiety and stress and achieve their set goals. The POCACOV Advisory Board to be inaugurated is part of the community peace building process in line with the realisation of public safety and security framework of the Nigeria Police Force by the POCACOV, which is to promote community peace, safety and security. The POCACOV Advisory Board will work with POCACOV Volunteer Club in Anambra State and other stakeholders as well as community based groups, faith based groups amongst others to enhance community peace, safety and security.”
He also stated that POCACOV was a community driven programme of the Police working with different stakeholders to enhance community peace, safety and security and to save Nigerian children and youths from the claws of cultism, violence and other vices through advocacy, awareness creation and sensitisation, mentoring and reorientation.
First Published 2021
