The Police Officers’ Wives Association (POWA) has announced plans to establish a sustainable mental health and psychosocial support system for police widows as part of efforts to address the emotional and social challenges faced by families of fallen officers.
The National President of POWA, Mrs. Olufunmilola Disu, made the announcement during activities commemorating the 2026 International Widows’ Day, themed “Justice, Dignity and Economic Power for Police Widows.”
Speaking at the event, Mrs. Disu said the loss of a spouse extends far beyond financial hardship, stressing that many widows are left to silently bear the burden of grief while raising children and rebuilding their lives.
She noted that emotional healing deserves the same level of attention as financial support, describing grief as a deeply personal and psychological experience that often goes unnoticed.
To address this challenge, Mrs. Disu disclosed that POWA would provide counselling services, emotional support, and a safe network for widows coping with loss and adjusting to life after tragedy.
“Our goal is simple: to ease the financial, health and emotional burdens faced by our women and to ensure that no police widow feels abandoned after her husband’s service and sacrifice,” she stated.
The POWA President also paid tribute to the families of police officers who recently lost their lives in the line of duty, including 17 officers killed in Yobe State and three others in Zamfara State. She assured their widows and children that the entire police family stands in solidarity with them during their period of mourning.
Highlighting the association’s ongoing welfare interventions, Mrs. Disu said POWA has expanded healthcare support for police families through medical consultations, dental and eye care services, as well as the provision of corrective eyeglasses to hundreds of beneficiaries.
She added that scholarship programmes for children of police families remain a key priority for the association, noting that efforts are being sustained to ensure that the educational aspirations of affected children are not cut short by the loss of a parent.
According to her, the theme of this year’s International Widows’ Day serves as a reminder of the collective responsibility to guarantee justice for fallen heroes, preserve the dignity of widows, and create opportunities that enable them to achieve economic independence and personal fulfilment.
Mrs. Disu called on government institutions, development partners, corporate organisations, and other stakeholders to demonstrate greater compassion and commitment towards supporting police widows, while working together to build a future where they are treated with dignity, empowered with hope, and provided with opportunities to thrive.
