The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, has honoured a retired traffic warden, Anifa Bello Abiodun with the IGP’s Award of Recognition and cash support, following the remarkable public farewell she received after 35 years of service on the streets of Abeokuta, Ogun State.
The recognition was presented on Thursday at the Force Headquarters in Abuja, where Disu commended Anifa for her professionalism, discipline, resilience and dedication to traffic management.
Anifa’s journey to the Force Headquarters began with an unusual retirement celebration in Abeokuta, where residents, motorists and well-wishers took to the streets with drummers and trumpeters to celebrate the woman who had become a familiar and trusted face on the city’s roads.
Curious Television News reports that the widely shared images from the farewell caught the attention of the police leadership, prompting the IGP to recognise her years of service. Disu said the affection shown to Anifa by members of the community reflected the strong relationship she had built with the people she served and demonstrated the positive impact of professionalism in policing.
According to the IGP, Anifa’s conduct earned her the affection of the community and, by extension, generated goodwill for the Nigeria Police Force. He stressed that the Force should not only call personnel to account when they err but should also recognise officers whose conduct brings honour and credit to the institution.
Behind the colourful farewell, however, lies a story of sacrifice and commitment. Anifa recalled that in 2012, the demands of her job put significant pressure on her marriage, with her husband at one point asking her to choose between her career and their marriage.
She pleaded for more time and continued with her duties. While she served in Ogun State, her husband lived in Oyo State and returned home at weekends. She also recalled occasions when the demands of duty made it difficult to get home early to her children, crediting her family for standing by her throughout her career.
Her husband, who accompanied her to the Force Headquarters, said he was aware of his wife’s passion for the job and her diligence, joy and discipline in carrying out her responsibilities, but never imagined that her dedication would attract such recognition.
Anifa’s retirement may, however, not be the end of her contribution to traffic policing. During the ceremony, Disu raised the possibility of inviting her back to Abuja to help train younger traffic wardens and sought her husband’s support for the proposed role, which he readily offered.
For Anifa, 35 years in the profession have done little to diminish her passion for the job. She said she loved being a traffic warden and would choose the profession again if given another opportunity in another life.
For the retired traffic warden whose farewell on the streets of Abeokuta captured public attention, the recognition at Force Headquarters represents a remarkable full circle — from spending decades directing motorists on the roads to standing before the country’s highest-ranking police officer as an embodiment of dedicated service and community goodwill.
