The Nigeria Police Force has disbursed N2.317 billion in insurance and welfare benefits to 2,971 beneficiaries and next-of-kin of police officers who died in service.
The cheques were presented by the Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, on Thursday in Abuja.
Disu said the beneficiaries were drawn from the 2017/2018, 2018/2019, 2020/2021, 2021/2022, 2022/2023 and 2024/2025 insurance policy years.
He disclosed that the total payment stood at N2,317,177,094 and also covered outstanding balances recovered from insurance companies after earlier partial payments.
The IGP described the disbursement as the fulfilment of legitimate obligations to officers and their families following the sacrifices made by personnel who died in the line of duty.
“Today, I am pleased to present benefits to 2,971beneficiaries and next-of-kin of deceased Police Officers amounting to N2,317,177,094.00.
“Beyond the financial value of these cheques, this exercise carries an important message: the Nigeria Police Force will not abandon the families of those who paid the supreme price in our service,” Disu said.
He acknowledged the difficult security situation across the country, noting that several police officers had been killed while responding to attacks and carrying out operations.
Among those he remembered were officers killed in Buni-Yadi, Yobe State; personnel of the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit who died during a rescue operation in Zamfara State; and 10 officers who were recently ambushed and killed during an operation in Kebbi State.
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“Their courage reminds us of the demands of policing and the price our personnel sometimes pay to protect the lives and property of others. Their families continue to bear the greatest burden of their absence, and we must never lose sight of that reality,” he said.
The IGP sympathised with the bereaved families, stressing that while the financial support could not compensate for the loss of their loved ones, it demonstrated the responsibility of the police institution towards them.
“No amount of money can replace the loved one you have lost. However, these payments represent the institutional responsibility we owe to you and a practical expression of our appreciation for the sacrifices made by your loved ones,” he said.
He advised the beneficiaries to manage the funds responsibly, especially by investing in the education and welfare of the children and dependants left behind.
Disu also reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to police welfare, saying efforts would continue to improve officers’ working conditions, healthcare, accommodation and other legitimate benefits available to personnel and their families.
“I have consistently maintained that an institution that demands courage, discipline, loyalty and sacrifice from its personnel must also demonstrate genuine commitment to their welfare and that of their families,” the IGP said.
He praised the insurance companies partnering with the Force while calling for faster settlement of claims, describing such payments as essential support for families that had lost their breadwinners.
“For families who have lost their breadwinners, they can be a vital lifeline. Timely settlement therefore has a direct bearing on the welfare and stability of these families,” he said.
Disu further revealed that the Force Insurance Unit had conducted sensitisation visits to six commands and over 50 divisions and formations across the Federal Capital Territory in the past two months.
According to him, the exercise was designed to educate serving officers and their families about their insurance coverage, available benefits and the procedures for accessing their entitlements.