Nigeria Police has presented cheque of twenty-nine million eight hundred and thirty-six thousand three hundred and seventy-eight million naira to fifty-one families of police officers who lost their lives in the line of duty.

According to Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 7, Abuja, Taiwo Lakanu, who presented cheque leaves to the beneficiaries in Abuja, said it was the duty of the force to take care of officers and their families.

Lakanu said commissioners of police in the state under the zone would present the remaining cheque to other beneficiaries, saying beneficiaries cut across the FCT, Niger and Kaduna State which make up the Zone.

He said the late officers paid the supreme price to curtail crimes and criminality in the country, saying “without these officers, most of us will not be where we are today because they carry out our instructions, they are most sincerely appreciated.”

Lakanu said the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, had restated his commitment to ensure that what accrued to the families of the deceased officers was given to them.

He pointed out that apart from the group life insurance for officers, he had taken it upon himself to create special welfare fund known as Inspector-General of Police Welfare Fund to boost the package.

Lakanu said “the essence of this gesture is not the money really but the idea behind it to let you know that you are not forgotten.

“This package is just one of the things the IGP in his wisdom planned for widows and children of the late officers.”

He said the force was committed to the welfare of families of officers who sacrificed their lives for the peace of the country.

He condoled with the beneficiaries and assured them of continued support of the force.

Responding on behalf of the beneficiaries, Andrew Moses appealed to the force to continue to support the families.

He commended the IGP “for the fatherly care” and urged him not to relent in efforts to support families of late officers.