Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, on Thursday, September 17, 2026, honoured a retired Deputy Superintendent of Traffic, Anifa Bello Abiodun, with the IGP's Award of Recognition and cash support in appreciation of her outstanding and exemplary service to the Nigeria Police Force. The presentation took place at the Force Headquarters in Abuja, where Disu commended the retired officer for her professionalism, discipline, resilience and dedication to traffic management during her years of service with the Ogun State Police Command, particularly in Abeokuta. The recognition came after a video of her emotional retirement celebration by residents of Abeokuta went viral, drawing national attention to a career spent serving the public with diligence and warmth.
Anifa Bello Abiodun, popularly known as "Mummy Dorcas" by some residents, marked her retirement from the Nigeria Police Force on September 2, 2026. Rather than allowing her final day in active service to pass quietly, residents of Abeokuta gathered around her with musical instruments, including drummers and trumpeters, turning her retirement into an emotional celebration. Residents also presented her with cash gifts and took turns to acknowledge her contributions to traffic management and her cordial relationship with members of the community. The gesture reportedly attracted attention within the Nigeria Police Force and prompted the IGP to invite the retired officer to the Force Headquarters in Abuja, where she was accompanied by her husband. At the ceremony, Disu presented Bello with an award and an undisclosed cash gift in recognition of her service.
For years, Anifa was a familiar figure on the roads of Abeokuta, where she served in traffic management and interacted daily with motorists, pedestrians and other members of the public. Her commitment to duty and professional conduct earned her goodwill among residents and road users in the communities where she worked. That goodwill became particularly evident when members of the public celebrated her service, an act of appreciation that brought attention to the retired officer and her years of work. The IGP said the residents' decision to celebrate the officer was an indication that she had built a positive relationship with the community through the manner in which she performed her duties. "They are happy with you. They brought the drummers and the trumpeters. We felt happy about it because it shows love from the community and in extension to us," Disu said.
The IGP noted that members of the public appreciate the police when officers discharge their duties professionally and responsibly, stressing that public dissatisfaction is often directed at misconduct rather than the institution itself. He expressed satisfaction that the retired officer had earned the respect and recognition of the community she served. "We know that people don't want to hate the police if we do the right thing. You did the right thing and it made people love you," he said. Disu emphasised that while the Nigeria Police Force would continue to hold personnel accountable for misconduct, it was equally important to recognise and reward officers who demonstrate professionalism, integrity and exemplary service. He noted that such recognition reinforced the values expected of personnel and encouraged others to distinguish themselves through dedicated service.
The IGP explained that the invitation to the Force Headquarters was intended to demonstrate that the Police Force could also recognise and appreciate officers who distinguished themselves in service. "If you have disgraced us, if you have done something wrong, if you have disgraced the Police, that day, we would have brought you here and we would have punished you," he said. "Now that you have done us well, we still need to bring you here and say thank you to you. That is why members of the management team are here to see you." The IGP also prayed for Bello's wellbeing in retirement and urged her to continue to enjoy the goodwill she had earned from members of the public.
Her husband, speaking at the occasion, said he was overwhelmed by the recognition accorded his wife. "I am short of words. I am really overwhelmed. I don't know what to say. I know she was really passionate about her job. She did it diligently, with passion and joy," he said. He added that he never expected to find himself sitting before the IGP and members of the police management team, describing his presence at the ceremony as a result of his wife's service. In her response, Bello expressed gratitude to her husband for supporting her career, recalling a difficult moment in their marriage when he had asked her to consider a different path. She said his support had made her career possible.
The recognition of Anifa Bello Abiodun stands as a rare moment in the often fraught relationship between the Nigeria Police Force and the public. For years, the Force has been criticised for misconduct, brutality and a lack of accountability. The IGP's decision to honour a retired officer whose service was celebrated by the very community she served sends a different message: that the Force is capable of acknowledging and rewarding the professionalism and dedication of its personnel. The Nigeria Police Force said the recognition formed part of its commitment to promoting accountability and rewarding exemplary conduct among its personnel. For Anifa, the recognition at Force Headquarters marked a notable moment at the end of a career spent serving on the streets of Abeokuta and interacting with the very members of the public whose appreciation ultimately helped bring her service into the spotlight.
The ceremony was attended by members of the police management team, who joined the IGP in celebrating the retired officer. The event underscored the importance of community-police relations and the role that individual officers can play in building trust between the public and law enforcement. Anifa's story is one of dedication, humility and service. It is a reminder that even within institutions that face widespread criticism, there are individuals whose commitment to duty and respect for the public can make a difference. The IGP's decision to honour her is a recognition of that difference, and a signal that the Force intends to reward officers who bring honour to the institution rather than disgrace it.
As Anifa Bello Abiodun begins her retirement, she leaves behind a legacy of service that has been recognised at the highest level of the Nigeria Police Force. Her story has resonated with Nigerians across the country, serving as a counter-narrative to the negative stories that often dominate discussions about policing in Nigeria. For the residents of Abeokuta who gathered to celebrate her, the IGP's recognition is a validation of their own judgment. They saw something worth celebrating in a traffic officer who did her job with diligence and humanity, and the Force has now affirmed that their appreciation was well placed. It is a rare and welcome moment of alignment between the public and the police, and one that the Force would do well to build upon.
📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com
✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com | 📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters News | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews
Add comment
Comments