As part of the 70th anniversary of women’s service in the Nigeria Police Force, the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC), has honoured seven retired senior female police officers for their meritorious contributions to national security.
National Chairman of the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC), Alhaji Mogaji Ibraheem Olaniyan, while saying the 7 female police officers deserved special recognition reaffirmed the group’s unwavering support for the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, as the committee held its national meeting in Abuja.
Addressing journalists shortly after the event, Olaniyan said the gathering brought together chairmen from the 36 states, as well as zonal, airport, railway and marine chapters of the PCRC, to demonstrate unity and collective commitment to advancing community policing in Nigeria.
He explained that the meeting was also aimed at expressing the committee’s renewed loyalty to the IGP.
“We choose today to demonstrate our support and encouragement for IGP Kayode Egbetokun. We reaffirm our loyalty and support, and we pass a vote of confidence in him again,” he said.
He noted that one of the honorees, a 96-year-old retired officer from the pioneer set of 20 women who first joined the force, could not attend the ceremony in Abuja. A PCRC delegation was deployed to Port Harcourt to present her award and monetary support.
“We wrote to the IGP to give us one retired female officer from each geopolitical zone, and he obliged us. He is always listening to us because he believes so much in the community policing system,” Olaniyan added.
The PCRC chairman said the decision to celebrate retired female officers was part of a broader advocacy campaign to ensure that women who served in the Nigeria Police are given a second chance in the labour force.
He recounted that during his three-year leadership, the committee had secured major employment opportunities for retired male senior police officers, but similar openings for women were still largely lacking.
He commended the Minister of Marine and former Governor of Osun State for appointing a retired female Commissioner of Police, Mrs Ige, as the Chief Security Officer of the state—an appointment that placed her in charge of coordinating the Amotekun security network.
“From that example, we know that if we empower retired female police officers, they can do better than men. As the oldest support group of the Nigeria Police, we understand their capacity,” he stated.
Olaniyan emphasised that the PCRC did not intend to create employment directly but to lead by example and drive national advocacy for the engagement of retired female officers in government and private sector roles.
“We want organisations and government to start giving them opportunities because they can do better. Today’s event is the beginning of that advocacy,” he said.
He concluded by urging PCRC members nationwide to continue supporting the retired officers and promoting their inclusion in post-service opportunities.
The seven retired senior female police officers, honoured for their meritorious contributions to national security, were DCP Dame Stella Obuoforibo Okuyiga KBVM, JP Rtd, SP Aisha Shaibu Rtd, SP Phoebe Vincent Niyel Rtd, DSP Patu Daniel Rtd, DSP Mariam Daniel Rtd, DSP Scholastica Ovie Rtd, and DSP Aina Usman Rtd.