Special Report: Not All Heroes Wear Capes: What I Saw at Sango Ota Raises Important Questions About Police Welfare

On Saturday, 11 July 2026, while travelling through Sango Ota in Ogun State, I witnessed a scene that deserves public attention. Officers of the Sango Divisional Police Headquarters stood in heavy rainfall directing traffic at the busy Sango Under Bridge and Ijoko Road junction. They remained on duty without raincoats or rain boots. By the time I passed, many of them were completely drenched, yet they continued regulating traffic and ensuring the safe movement of commuters.

What made the scene even more remarkable was that the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), CSP Idowu Olatunji, was also physically present in the rain, supervising the traffic management operation alongside his officers. Rather than issuing instructions from the comfort of an office, he shared the same harsh weather conditions as the personnel under his command. Such field leadership sends a powerful message about responsibility, accountability, and leading by example.

For many road users, this may have appeared to be an ordinary policing activity. From a security perspective, however, it raises an important question about officer welfare and operational preparedness.

Modern policing extends beyond crime fighting. Traffic management is a core public safety function that exposes officers to numerous hazards, particularly during adverse weather. Prolonged exposure to heavy rain increases the risk of illness, reduces visibility, limits mobility, and may compromise operational effectiveness. Basic protective equipment such as waterproof raincoats, rain boots, and reflective rain gear should therefore be regarded as operational necessities rather than welfare privileges.

The commitment displayed by the officers deserves commendation. Their willingness to remain at their duty posts under such conditions reflects professionalism and dedication to public service. Equally commendable was the leadership demonstrated by the DPO, whose presence on the road reinforced the principle that effective policing depends not only on command but also on visible leadership. At the same time, commitment should never substitute for proper equipment.

Lagos State provides a useful reference point. Since the establishment of the Lagos State Security Trust Fund in 2007, substantial investments have been made in strengthening security operations through the provision of patrol vehicles, communication equipment, surveillance technology, ballistic helmets, bulletproof vests, reflective jackets, waterproof raincoats, rain boots, and other operational assets. Such interventions have complemented federal funding and improved the operational capacity of security agencies across the state.

This naturally raises a number of legitimate public policy questions. To what extent is the Ogun State Government supporting security agencies operating within the state? Are police formations receiving adequate logistical assistance that addresses routine operational needs? How is the Ado Odo/Ota Local Government collaborating with police formations within its jurisdiction to improve policing and officer welfare?

Security is a shared responsibility. While government bears the primary obligation of funding public safety, the private sector and local communities also have important roles to play.

Sango Ota is one of Nigeria’s foremost industrial and commercial hubs, hosting numerous manufacturing companies, factories, logistics firms, and commercial enterprises. These organisations depend on a secure environment for uninterrupted operations. Through coordinated corporate social responsibility initiatives, companies operating within the area can jointly provide basic operational equipment to police formations serving their host communities. Items such as raincoats, rain boots, reflective jackets, rechargeable torches, first aid kits, traffic control equipment, office furniture, and communication accessories may appear modest, yet they can substantially improve daily policing.

Educational institutions can also contribute. Owners of private and public schools within Sango Ota may consider periodic donations of essential operational items to nearby police formations as part of their community engagement programmes. Such contributions promote safer school environments and strengthen relationships between educational institutions and law enforcement.

Patriotic individuals, community associations, market associations, transport unions, religious organisations, and professional bodies can equally support policing through lawful donations of non tactical equipment. Community participation has long remained one of the foundations of effective policing across democratic societies.

Supporting the police should never be viewed solely through the prism of weapons or vehicles. Officer welfare directly influences operational performance. A police officer protected from harsh weather is better positioned to protect members of the public.

The officers I saw standing in the rain at Sango Ota, alongside their Divisional Police Officer, did not abandon their duty because they lacked protective rain gear. They remained focused on keeping traffic moving and ensuring the safety of thousands of commuters. That level of commitment deserves more than praise. It deserves practical support.

If safer communities remain a collective aspiration, investment in those who protect them should also become a collective responsibility. Not all heroes wear capes. Some wear police uniforms, stand shoulder to shoulder with their commanders in the rain, and continue serving the public under conditions that demand resilience, sacrifice, and an unwavering commitment to duty.