Police Disburse N37.2m to Families of Deceased Officers in Akwa Ibom

Inspector-General of Police, Olukayode Egbetokun | Photo: Nigeria Police Force

By Patrick Odey

The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has disbursed a total of ₦37,280,296.36 to the families of 33 officers who died in active service.

The cheques were presented on behalf of the Inspector-General of Police, Olukayode Egbetokun, by the State Commissioner of Police, CP Baba Azare, during a press briefing on Tuesday at the command headquarters in Uyo.

According to Azare, the disbursement was made under the IGP Family Welfare and Group Life Assurance Schemes, designed to provide financial support to the families of officers who lost their lives in the line of duty.

He expressed appreciation to the IGP for the initiative and reassured the public that the police would continue to prioritise welfare schemes for both serving and fallen personnel.

He stated that the police is relentless in its welfare efforts for its personnel and will not relent in initiatives, especially for those who sacrificed their lives for the peace and progress of the country.

Azare urged the beneficiaries to use the funds judiciously, stressing that the sacrifices of the deceased officers would never be forgotten.

In a related development, the Commissioner pledged continued support for retired officers in the state.

This commitment was made during a courtesy visit by the National Association of Retired Police Officers of Nigeria, Akwa Ibom State Chapter, at the command headquarters in Ikot Akpan Abia.

Azare commended the association’s peaceful and collaborative approach to addressing challenges affecting retired officers, emphasizing that dialogue remains the most effective path to sustainable solutions.

He also promised to support the association’s request to facilitate the acquisition of land for the construction of a permanent meeting hall.

Earlier, the association’s State Chairman, Anselem Eyo, applauded the police command for its crime-fighting efforts and called for increased collaboration between retired officers and the command to enhance security in the state.