The Police Officers’ Wives Association, POWA, is set to establish a sustainable mental health and psychosocial support system for police widows. National President Mrs. Olufunmilola Disu made the announcement during activities marking the 2026 International Widows’ Day themed “Justice, Dignity and Economic Power for Police Widows”. She said the pain of losing a spouse goes beyond financial hardship and must no longer be ignored, as many widows silently carry the weight of grief while raising children and rebuilding their lives.
Mrs. Disu stressed that emotional healing deserves as much attention as financial assistance because grief is deeply personal and psychological. To address this, POWA will provide counselling, encouragement and a safe support network for widows navigating 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 said. She also paid tribute to families of 17 officers killed in Yobe and 3 in Zamfara, assuring their widows and children that the police family shares their grief.
The POWA President noted that the association has expanded healthcare interventions for police families, including medical consultations, dental and eye care services, and corrective eyeglasses for hundreds of beneficiaries. Scholarship support for children of police families also remains a priority to ensure their dreams do not perish with their parents. Mrs. Disu said this year’s theme underscores the need to guarantee justice for fallen heroes, preserve widows’ dignity, and create opportunities for them to thrive. She urged stakeholders to show greater compassion and build a future where every police widow is treated with dignity and empowered with hope.
