Police pay N181.78m to fallen officers’ families

The Nigeria Police Force has disbursed N181.78m in insurance and welfare benefits to families and next-of-kin of deceased police officers in six states.

The payments, made in Cross River, Sokoto, Rivers, Delta, Akwa Ibom and Kebbi states, covered 158 beneficiaries of officers who died in active service.

In Cross River, the state police command presented N13,753,885.36 to 17 families of deceased officers under the Nigeria Police Force Group Life Assurance scheme.

The cheques were presented by the Commissioner of Police, Geoffrey Ordue, on Thursday at the command headquarters in Calabar.

Ordue said the payment was approved by the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, to provide financial assistance to families following the death of their loved ones in service.

He said, “17 families of police officers who died while serving in Cross River State have received N13,753,885.36 in Group Life Assurance benefits.

While no amount of money could replace a loved one, this gesture will provide meaningful support to the families left behind.

“The payment was approved by the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu. The beneficiaries are officers who were covered under the Nigeria Police Force’s Group Life Assurance scheme. This initiative is to provide financial assistance to families following the death of their relatives in service.”

In Sokoto, the command presented N14,638,918.76 in Group Life Assurance cheques to the families and beneficiaries of 17 police officers who died in the line of duty.

The Commissioner of Police, Hayatu Shaffa, presented the cheques on behalf of the IGP.

Shaffa said the welfare of police personnel and their families remained a priority of the police leadership.

He said, “The sacrifices made by officers in the service to the nation will not be forgotten.”

The commissioner added, “This gesture demonstrates the commitment of the Inspector-General of Police to the welfare of our personnel and the families of our fallen heroes.”

He further said, “We appreciate the Inspector-General of Police for his continued commitment to the welfare of police officers and the families of our fallen heroes.”

Shaffa assured police personnel that the command would continue to support initiatives designed to improve their welfare and morale.

In Rivers State, the command presented N76,616,799.28 to families and beneficiaries of police officers who lost their lives in the course of their service to the nation.

The Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adepoju, presented the cheques at the command headquarters in Port Harcourt.

Adepoju said the payment was part of the welfare initiatives of the IGP and was intended to support families of officers who died in the line of duty.

He said, “Today we are here to present to you cheques under the Group Life Insurance and Group Personal Accident Scheme of the Nigerian Police Force.

“On behalf of officers and men of our command here, I wish to express my profound gratitude to the Inspector General of Police, who has made it possible for us to present these cheques to help with the financial constraints that family members of our fallen heroes might be going through.

“The welfare of fallen heroes is a major concern to him, and he is doing everything to make sure that if our fallen heroes are no more, their families do not suffer.

“We are embarking on a lot of programmes to ease all your stress and financial problems. He expressed his condolences and said we should present these cheques to you to soften whatever financial pains you may have.

“Equally, we implore you to use the financial aid judiciously and effectively to assist the children they left behind and the entire family.

“From time to time, we will continue to do this as directed by the IGP. So this is just a token.

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“Today we are giving out a total sum of N76,616,799.28. So I hereby present it to every one of you. Make sure you keep it safe and for the benefit of the families,” the CP added.

In Delta State, families of 46 police officers who died while serving in the state received N25,405,226.57 in welfare and insurance benefits.

The cheques were presented by the Commissioner of Police, Samuel Erale, at the command headquarters in Asaba on Thursday.

Erale said the intervention was part of the commitment of the IGP to the welfare of serving personnel and families of officers who died in service.

He said, “Although no amount of money can replace the lives of the deceased officers, this intervention demonstrates the Force’s resolve to ensure that the sacrifices of its personnel are remembered and that their families are not abandoned.”

Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Moses Evelyn Animi thanked the police authorities for the payment and said the families appreciated the Force for remembering officers who died in service.

In Akwa Ibom State, the command presented N39,967,409.28 in welfare cheques to 51 beneficiaries comprising families and next-of-kin of deceased police officers.

The Commissioner of Police, Baba Mohammed Azare, presented the cheques on behalf of the IGP at the command headquarters in Uyo.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Timfon John, disclosed this in a statement issued on Thursday.

The statement read, “The Commissioner of Police, Akwa Ibom State Command, CP Baba Mohammed Azare, has presented welfare cheques totalling N39,967,409.28 to 51 beneficiaries, comprising the families and next-of-kin of deceased police officers who served the Nigeria Police Force and the nation with dedication, courage and distinction.

“The presentation, made on behalf of the Inspector-General of Police, reflects the Nigeria Police Force’s unwavering commitment to the welfare of families whose loved ones paid the ultimate price or passed away in active service.”

Addressing the beneficiaries, Azare said, “While no amount of money can replace the lives of our departed colleagues, this intervention demonstrates that the Nigeria Police Force has not forgotten their service, sacrifice or the families they left behind.”

He urged the beneficiaries to use the funds prudently for the welfare, education and development of their families and dependants.

Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Aniedi Etuk appreciated the IGP and the commissioners of police for prioritising the welfare of fallen officers.

He said, “On behalf of the families that have benefitted from this welfare initiative, we are grateful to the Inspector-General of Police and the Commissioner of Police for prioritising the welfare of our fallen heroes.

“I want to assure you that the funds will be judiciously utilised to help our respective families.”

In Kebbi, the police presented cheques totalling N11.4m to 18 beneficiaries and next-of-kin of deceased police officers under the Group Life Assurance and Group Personal Accident insurance schemes.

The cheques, amounting to N11,400,252.35, were presented by the Commissioner of Police, CP Umar M. Hadejia, on behalf of the IGP.

Speaking during the presentation, Hadejia reaffirmed the commitment of the police authorities to the welfare of officers and the families of personnel who died in service.

He said, “The service and contributions of these deceased officers to the nation remain deeply appreciated and will not be forgotten.”

The commissioner added that the insurance benefits would provide meaningful support to the affected families, stressing that the welfare of police personnel and their dependants remained a priority of the Force Management Team.

Hadejia urged the beneficiaries to see the gesture as part of the Nigeria Police Force’s continued commitment to supporting families of its fallen personnel.

The beneficiaries expressed appreciation to the IGP, Force Management Team and the Kebbi State Police Command for the payment, describing it as a demonstration of the Force’s continued concern for families of deceased officers.