IGP APPROVES THE APPOINTMENT OF SP ORVENONNE IKWEN AS NATIONAL COORDINATOR, POLICE CAMPAIGN AGAINST CULTISM AND OTHER VICES (POCACOV)

…Tasks new head to strengthen preventive policing and expand community engagement in line with the IGP’s vision of people-friendly and rule-of-law-compliant policing.

The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, PhD., NPM, has approved the appointment of SP Orvenonne Ikwen as the new National Coordinator of the Police Campaign Against Cultism and Other Vices (POCACOV) - a strategic national initiative of the Nigeria Police Force, designed to advance non-kinetic approaches in combating the menace of cultism and other social vices.

This appointment aligns with the IGP’s commitment to a modern, intelligence-led, technology-driven, and citizen-centred policing vision, that prioritises early intervention, public trust, and proactive community engagement in tackling crime nationwide.

SP Ikwen, an experienced police officer, security and development practitioner, and strategic communication expert, brings a strong blend of professional and academic credentials to her new role. She holds a Ph.D. in Computer Science, majoring in Artificial Intelligence and Data Science from the University of Calabar. She has distinguished herself through her contributions to technology-driven policing, public relations, and behavioural change communication. She is a member of the Institute of Strategic Management of Nigeria (ISMN) and the Institute of Conflict Management & Negotiation Analyst (ICMNA). She has played key roles in police transformation projects, research, and inter-agency collaborations.

As National Coordinator, SP Ikwen is expected to expand and deepen POCACOV’s engagements across institutions of higher learning, schools, communities, and youth platforms by addressing cultism, drug abuse, cyber vulnerabilities, gender-based violence, misinformation, and other social vices through preventive, participatory, and community-centred approaches.

The Inspector General of Police urges SP Ikwen to explore innovative strategies for crime prevention, engage a diverse range of stakeholders, organisations, community leaders, educational institutions, youth groups, and partners who have been supporting the vision of the campaign over the years.