ABOUT 16 widows and children of policemen and policewomen attached to the Ogun State Police Command, who lost their spouses/parents on active service received cheques from the command yesterday.
At the Police Headquarters in Eleweran, the state capital of Abeokuta, Lanre Bankole, the commissioner of police, handed out checks totaling N55,510,093 to the beneficiaries.
The officers’ families who lost loved ones last year and at the beginning of this year received the checks.
The financial assistance, according to Bankole, was provided to lessen the hardship the families of the fallen heroes were experiencing.
According to the CP, the Inspector General of Police was worried about the fate of the families who had been left behind and promised to see to it that the benefits were given to the heroes’ next of kin.
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 cause 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 police authority would support officers involved in accidents in the cause of their duty.
“It is referred to as group life assurance which is a policy that had been subscribed to by 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 cause 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 the 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.”
