The Lagos State Commissioner of Police (CP), Fayoade Adegoke, on Wednesday, presented a Settlement Group Life Assurance and IGP Family Welfare benefits, amounting to N166,353,805, to the families of 86 police personnel who passed away while in service.
Adegoke also disclosed that the life assurance scheme was being funded by the Federal Government.
Last year, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Olukayode Egbetokun, presented a Settlement Group Life Assurance and IGP Family Welfare Scheme benefits, amounting to N2,276,110,966.80 to 613 families of police officers, who died in active service.
On Wednesday, the Lagos Commissioner of Police presented cheques to families of deceased cops at the state Command Headquarters in Ikeja.
“I am glad to present these cheques to the wives of our fallen heroes. Our colleagues have sacrificed their lives for the country. The police association has deemed it fit to compensate the families of our fallen heroes. The amount might be little but this is to provide support for their wives and their children.
“We have two insurance policies and one of them is the Inspector General of Police Welfare Insurance. On behalf of the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, we are delighted to present the cheques to the widows. We are presenting N166, 350, 000 to 86 families”, the CP said.
According to The PUNCH, wife to a late cop, Omolola Ayorinde, regretted the state of the economy while noting how difficult it had been for her to care for the family alone. Nonetheless, she expressed her appreciation to the Police Force for the insurance benefit.
She said, “The journey is not easy and the country is not making it any easier. I do not know the amount that will be given to us because we have yet to sign the cheques. The economy is not easy, especially for me in the aspect of foodstuffs; but I am grateful to the Inspector General of Police, and the Lagos State Commissioner of Police for helping us ease the burden”.
Another widow, Favour Ogaba, said, “I have four kids and the journey has not been easy at all. Their (police) job is very risky because when they go out we are not certain they will come back. It has been God all through and I am grateful to God and the police force for helping us”.