Anambra Police, Women Affairs Ministry Partner to Expand Anti-Crime Advocacy at 2026 August Meeting
By Chizoba Njaka
The Anambra State Police Command, through its Police Campaign Against Cultism and Other Vices (POCACOV), has partnered with the Anambra State Ministry of Women Affairs to strengthen advocacy against cultism, substance abuse, cybercrime, bullying, and other social vices during the 2026 August Meeting across the state. According to a press release signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, the partnership was initiated following a courtesy visit by the Anambra State POCACOV team to the ministry on August 4.
The statement noted that the collaboration is designed to leverage the annual August Meeting as a strategic platform for engaging women on their pivotal role in preventing youth involvement in crime and other anti-social behaviours. The delegation was led by the State Coordinator of POCACOV, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Francisca Egbunike, and comprised the campaign's Women Leader and Lady Florence Mmakah, alongside other members of the team.
Speaking during the visit, ASP Egbunike described mothers, women leaders, and caregivers as indispensable partners in crime prevention, noting that they play a crucial role in shaping the character, values, and behaviour of children and young people. She said the August Meeting offers a unique opportunity to reach thousands of women across Anambra with practical crime prevention messages that will strengthen families and communities.
The delegation appealed to the ministry to facilitate the inclusion of POCACOV advocacy sessions in August Meeting programmes across the state. The proposed engagements will focus on responsible parenting, youth mentorship, moral upbringing, value reorientation, and the early identification of behavioural changes that may expose children and adolescents to criminal activities.
Responding, the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs. Esther Chinyere Onyekesi, commended the Nigeria Police Force for adopting a proactive, community-based approach to crime prevention through POCACOV. She described the initiative as timely and impactful and assured the delegation of the ministry's commitment to mobilising women across the state to protect children and young people from negative influences while promoting peace, discipline, responsible parenting, and good citizenship.
The advocacy campaign will sensitise participants to the dangers and consequences of cultism, substance abuse, cybercrime, human trafficking, sexual and gender-based violence, bullying, and other anti-social behaviours. It will also encourage education, entrepreneurship, skills acquisition, innovation, and other lawful means of livelihood as sustainable alternatives for empowering young people and reducing their vulnerability to crime.
The Police Command reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening collaboration with government institutions, traditional rulers, faith-based organisations, educational institutions, civil society groups, youth organisations, women associations, and community leaders to advance preventive policing, enhance public safety, and build safer communities across Anambra State in line with the vision of the IGP for a professionally competent, service-driven, and community-oriented Nigeria Police Force.