Hundreds of young people in Ogun State have pledged to distance themselves from cult groups, substance abuse, internet fraud and other criminal activities after participating in a police-led awareness programme.
The campaign was organised by the Ogun State Police Campaign Against Cultism and Other Vices, POCACOV, during the Royal Ambassador Ogun Baptist Conference, Ephphatha 2026.
The state Police Command disclosed this in a statement issued on Monday by its Deputy Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Oluborode Opeyemi.
The outreach was conducted by the state POCACOV team under the direction of Opeyemi, who also serves as the programme’s state coordinator. It was carried out in accordance with the vision of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, and under the leadership of the state Commissioner of Police, CP Bode Ojajuni.
The police said the “high-impact engagement empowered hundreds of teenagers and young adults with critical knowledge to resist negative social pressures,” encouraging participants to make positive choices and reject activities that could jeopardise their future.
During the programme, the POCACOV team spoke extensively about “the severe, long-term dangers associated with active involvement in cultism, gang violence, substance abuse, cybercrime and other social vices.”
The officers explained the consequences of becoming involved in criminal activities, including the potential loss of educational and career opportunities, threats to personal safety and the negative impact such behaviour can have on schools and communities.
Young participants were also encouraged to develop self-control, maintain healthy peer relationships and take responsibility for their decisions.
POCACOV officers urged the “young participants to recognise their role as key stakeholders in building safe environments, demonstrating how strong character choices and early ethical leadership serve as the strongest deterrents against criminal temptation.”
The programme ended with the youths making a joint pledge to maintain good conduct, resist criminal influences and promote anti-vice campaigns among their peers, schools and communities.
The Ogun State POCACOV said it would continue to strengthen its youth-oriented preventive campaigns and community policing efforts as part of measures to curb social vices across the state.
