About 16 widows and children of policemen attached to the Ogun State Police Command who lost their lives in active service, on Monday, wept while receiving cheques from the command.
The state Commissioner of Police, Lanre Bankole, presented the cheques of N55,510,093 to the beneficiaries at the Police headquarters, Eleweran, Abeokuta, the state capital.
Shortly before the presentation of the cheques to the widows and children of some policemen and women who lost their lives early this year and last year, the beneficiaries wept profusely while being called one after the other for the cheques.
Bankole, while addressing them, said the financial support was to alleviate the hardship facing the families of the fallen heroes.
The CP stated that the Inspector-General of Police was concerned about the welfare of the families left behind, adding that he would ensure that the benefits were paid to the next-of-kins of the fallen heroes.
He said, “What we are doing today is in tandem with the IGP’s order to alleviate the hardship that has come upon the families of those fallen heroes who have lost their lives in the course of duty.
“The IGP has deemed it necessary to ensure that benefits are paid to next-of-kins of these fallen heroes. And it is in that line that today we are presenting cheques totaling N55,510,093 to the beneficiaries of these late officers.”
The police boss further said the police authority would support officers involved in accidents in the course of their duty.
“It is referred to as group life assurance, which is a policy that had been subscribed to by the Nigeria Police to cater for families and beneficiaries of officers in unfortunate incidents of loss of lives.
“We also have the group personal accident, which is to cater for officers who may have been maimed or suffer some deformity in the course of their duty.
“So I have the honour, on behalf of the Inspector-General of Police of the Federation, to present 16 cheques,” Bankole said.
One of the beneficiaries, Adekunle Mariam, commended the police authority for the support, adding that it would ease the financial difficulties of the families.
She said,”For me, receiving this gesture from the IGP and the entire Nigeria Police, I will say I feel good. It is like a blessing to me and my siblings.
“My mum was like a bread winner of the family. With this, I know we will survive. I will make sure we put it into good use, so whenever we remember our mum we know that she was a good warrior.”
