The police command in Enugu has urged parents and guardians to strengthen children’s upbringing to curb hard drug abuse, cultism and other social vices.

Police commissioner Mamman Giwa made the call on Tuesday during the re-launch of the Police Campaign Against Cultism and Other Vices in Enugu. The event also featured a stakeholders’ meeting with the theme, ‘Strengthening Community Partnership for Sustainable Crime Prevention’.

Mr Giwa said parents must not abandon their responsibility of moulding children’s character to schools, communities or law enforcement agencies. According to him, the home remains the first institution for instilling discipline, good values and responsible conduct among children and youths.

He stressed that children should be guided away from bad company, while delinquent behaviour should be corrected during formative years.

The commissioner identified hard drug abuse as one of the early warning signs requiring prompt parental intervention.

Mr Giwa noted that POCACOV was introduced in Enugu through the initiative of former spokesperson, Ebere Amaraizu. He said the command had consistently sustained the campaign through community engagements and preventive policing initiatives.

Mr Giwa said the command had remained at the forefront of redirecting misguided and drug-dependent youths through social interventions and counselling. He added that the initiative sought to encourage positive change, productivity and social reintegration among vulnerable youths.

The commissioner of police pledged continued support for POCACOV activities and other community policing programmes across the state.

Mr Giwa said emotional intelligence and non-kinetic approaches often delivered better outcomes in addressing certain social and security challenges. He also appealed to traditional rulers, youth leaders and community stakeholders to encourage eligible youths to join the police.

According to him, the Enugu government has provided vehicles and logistics to support effective policing operations. He said greater youth participation in policing would strengthen efforts to reform misguided youths and improve community safety.

National coordinator of POCACOV, Orvenonne Ikwen, said the initiative promotes non-kinetic crime prevention strategies. Ms Ikwen said the programme was designed to reclaim vulnerable youths and discourage involvement in criminal activities.

She identified peer pressure and hard drug abuse as major drivers of cultism and youth delinquency. According to her, sustained sensitisation campaigns and constructive engagements can reduce substance abuse and negative influences.