The Cross River State Police Command is set to establish the Police Campaign Against Cultism and Other Vices (POCACOV) at the University of Calabar (UNICAL) as part of a broader effort to curb cultism, violence, drug abuse and related criminal activities within the institution.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Ajo Geoffrey Ordue, disclosed the plan when the Vice Chancellor of UNICAL, Prof. Offiong Offiong, alongside members of the university’s management team, paid a visit to the Command headquarters in Calabar.
According to Ordue, the POCACOV initiative will create a proactive channel for sensitisation, intelligence gathering and direct engagement with students and other young people, with the objective of preventing criminal activities and other social vices before they escalate.
The police commissioner also called for increased engagement with youths ahead of the forthcoming elections, cautioning against political thuggery, online incitement, digital thuggery and other forms of violence involving young people.
He said the Command would sustain its use of community policing, crime prevention and intelligence-led approaches while working with tertiary institutions to enhance the protection of lives and property.
Ordue further underscored the importance of early intervention and continuous cooperation among university managements, students and security agencies in identifying and responding to emerging threats within campuses.
Responding, the UNICAL Vice Chancellor, Prof. Offiong Offiong, assured the police of the university’s willingness to deepen its existing partnership with the Command, particularly in addressing cultism, violence and other security concerns.
Offiong said the institution would maintain its collaboration with relevant security agencies to protect students, staff and other members of the university community while preserving a peaceful atmosphere for teaching, learning and research.
UNICROSS trains prospective security personnel
In a related development, the University of Cross River State (UNICROSS) has completed a two-week intensive training programme for prospective security personnel as part of measures to improve safety across its campuses.
The exercise, organised in collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force through the university’s Internal Security Unit, featured physical fitness drills, medical screening, security instruction and public relations training.
The candidates were evaluated based on their discipline, alertness and overall readiness for campus security responsibilities. The public relations component also equipped them with skills for professional engagement with students, staff and members of host communities.
The university disclosed that the prospective recruits would be required to sit formal examinations, adding that appointment would be limited to candidates who satisfy the stipulated physical, medical, security and examination requirements.
The Vice Chancellor of UNICROSS, Prof. Francisca Bassey, monitored the training exercise, which was coordinated by the university’s Chief Security Officer, Superintendent Iwara Ibiang (rtd).
According to the institution, the recruitment initiative is designed to reinforce security arrangements supporting teaching, learning, research and other academic and administrative activities across its campuses.
