IGP appoints SP Orvenonne Ikwen as National Coordinator of POCACOV

By Johnson Arua

The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, has approved the appointment of SP Orvenonne Ikwen as the new National Coordinator of the Police Campaign Against Cultism and Other Vices (POCACOV).

POCACOV is a strategic initiative of the Nigeria Police Force aimed at addressing the menace of cultism and other social vices through preventive, non-kinetic approaches. The appointment underscores the IGP’s commitment to modern, intelligence-led, technology-driven, and citizen-centred policing.

SP Ikwen, an accomplished police officer, security and development practitioner, and strategic communication expert, brings extensive professional and academic experience to her new role. She holds a Ph.D. in Computer Science, specialising in Artificial Intelligence and Data Science, from the University of Calabar. She has also contributed significantly to technology-driven policing, public relations, and behavioural change communication.

A member of both the Institute of Strategic Management of Nigeria (ISMN) and the Institute of Conflict Management & Negotiation Analyst (ICMNA), SP Ikwen has been actively involved in police transformation projects, research, and inter-agency collaborations.

In her new role, she is expected to expand POCACOV’s engagement with higher institutions, schools, communities, and youth platforms. The initiative will tackle issues such as cultism, drug abuse, cyber vulnerabilities, gender-based violence, misinformation, and other social vices through preventive and community-focused strategies.

The IGP has tasked SP Ikwen with exploring innovative crime prevention strategies and strengthening partnerships with stakeholders, including community leaders, educational institutions, youth groups, and other organisations that have supported the campaign over the years.

CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, the Force Public Relations Officer, confirmed the appointment in a statement on X issued from the Force Headquarters, Abuja.