The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, has approved the appointment of Superintendent of Police (SP) Orvenonne Ikwen as the new National Coordinator of the Police Campaign Against Cultism and Other Vices (POCACOV), a flagship non-kinetic crime-prevention initiative of the Nigeria Police Force.
The appointment, announced on Saturday, underscores the IGP’s drive toward strengthening intelligence-led, technology-driven, people-focused policing as part of ongoing reforms within the Force.
In a statement signed by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, the IGP said SP Ikwen is expected to “strengthen preventive policing and expand community engagement in line with the vision of a citizen-centred and rule-of-law-compliant police system.”
According to Hundeyin, the appointment reflects the IGP’s commitment to proactive crime prevention.
“This aligns with the IGP’s focus on early intervention, public trust, and the use of modern technology to tackle crime nationwide,” he said.
SP Ikwen, described as an accomplished police officer, development practitioner, and strategic communication expert, holds a Ph.D. in Computer Science with a specialisation in Artificial Intelligence and Data Science from the University of Calabar.
She is also a member of the Institute of Strategic Management of Nigeria (ISMN) and the Institute of Conflict Management & Negotiation Analyst (ICMNA). Over the years, she has contributed to several police transformation projects, research efforts, public relations engagements, and inter-agency collaborations.
“SP Ikwen brings a unique blend of technology expertise, behavioural change communication skills, and policing experience to the role,” Hundeyin added.
As National Coordinator, Ikwen will lead engagements across schools, higher institutions, communities, and youth platforms. Her mandate includes addressing cultism, drug abuse, cyber threats, gender-based violence, misinformation, and other social vices using preventive and community-driven strategies.
The IGP charged her to explore innovative methods for crime prevention and deepen partnerships with civil society organisations, educational institutions, youth groups, traditional institutions, and other stakeholders.
“The Inspector-General urges her to strengthen collaborations with partners who have supported the campaign over the years and to ensure that POCACOV continues to evolve as a model for community-led crime prevention,” the statement added.
The appointment takes effect immediately.
