IGP Appoints SP Orvenonne Ikwen as New National Coordinator of POCACOV
The Nigeria Police Force has approved the appointment of Superintendent Orvenonne Ikwen as the new National Coordinator of the Police Campaign Against Cultism and Other Vices, known widely as POCACOV. The announcement, conveyed from Force Headquarters in Abuja, carries a quiet sense of transition, as the initiative prepares to widen its preventive reach across communities and youth spaces nationwide. Inspector-General of Police Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun endorsed the appointment as part of his continuing push for a policing structure that is intelligence-led, technology-driven, and rooted in public trust. His direction, sketched almost like a firm signature across the Force’s current reforms, emphasizes early intervention and stronger links with communities before crime takes root. SP Ikwen steps into the role with an academic and professional portfolio that has drawn attention within policing circles. She holds a doctorate in Computer Science with a focus on Artificial Intelligence and Data Science from the University of Calabar, and has built a reputation for applying technology, research and communication strategy to policing reforms. Her work has placed her at the intersection of security, public relations and behavioral-change communication, while her memberships of the Institute of Strategic Management of Nigeria and the Institute of Conflict Management & Negotiation Analyst reflect her grounding in broader development practice. Under her leadership, POCACOV is expected to expand its footprint in schools, universities, communities and youth-driven platforms. The initiative, originally conceived as a non-kinetic response to cultism and other social vices, is now being positioned to take on a wider spectrum of concerns, including drug abuse, cyber vulnerabilities, gender-based violence and misinformation. The aim, as outlined by the Force, is to maintain a preventive, participatory structure that keeps communities firmly involved. The Inspector-General has tasked SP Ikwen with engaging an array of stakeholders — from educational institutions and community leaders to civil society groups and long-standing partners of the program-me. His message underlines the need for more innovative tools and collaborations to strengthen the campaign’s reach at a time when youth-related vulnerabilities continue to evolve. The appointment was formally released by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, adding another stroke to the Force’s ongoing effort to chart a more community-focused policing.
| 2025-11-23 08:17:21