Ogun Police Launch School Outreach Targeting Cultism, Cybercrime, and Child Marriage

Police authorities in Ogun State have launched an awareness drive across secondary schools to caution young female students against the dangers of cultism, digital crime, substance abuse, and early marriage. According to a report by Daily Post Nigeria, the outreach was organized to mark the International Day of the Girl Child and highlight the risks that social vices pose to academic futures.

Engaging Female Students on Modern Risks

The campaign was executed under the Police Campaign Against Cultism and Other Vices (POCACOV), an initiative directed under the Ogun State Police Command headed by Commissioner of Police Bode Ojajuni. Field teams visited secondary institutions in Abeokuta, including Abeokuta Girls’ Grammar School and Baptist Girls’ College in Idi-Aba.

Addressing the gatherings, the state POCACOV coordinator, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Opeyemi Oluborode, cautioned students that negative peer pressure, illicit drug use, involvement with cult networks, and cybercrime could derail their developmental goals. Oluborode stressed that these destructive behaviors frequently truncate educational pathways before young people can establish stable careers.

Focus on Child Rights and Legal Safeguards

Delivering a presentation titled “Breaking Boundaries: Shaping the Future of the Girl Child,” Oluborode connected the police outreach to broader campaigns aimed at ending early marriage and expanding educational opportunities for young women. As reported by Daily Post Nigeria, the sessions drew attention to legal provisions under the Child Rights Act designed to shield minors from exploitation, coerced unions, and abuse.

Students were encouraged to build self-discipline and self-confidence, with the police representative emphasizing that gender should not serve as an obstacle to academic achievement or personal ambition. Oluborode urged the girls to reject discriminatory practices and seek appropriate assistance when confronted with harmful situations.

Call for Broader Community Cooperation

Beyond speaking directly to the pupils, the Ogun State Police Command highlighted the necessity of institutional collaboration to create safe school spaces. Law enforcement officials urged school administrators, guardians, and local community leaders to maintain open channels of communication and remain vigilant against signs of exploitation or peer pressure.

The command asked community stakeholders to proactively report suspected cases of abuse or child marriage to appropriate authorities rather than letting them go unaddressed. According to the report, school leadership at both participating institutions welcomed the intervention, while attending students committed to resisting negative influences and remaining focused on their studies.

Source: Daily Post Nigeria

Tags: Child Rights · Education · news · Nigeria Police · Ogun State · POCACOV · ViralBrief