The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Usman Baba, has commenced the distribution of over N13 billion to cover the insurance benefits of 7,000 officers who lost their lives while in service and those injured while on active duty between 2012 and 2020.

This was contained in a statement issued on Thursday by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi.

The IGP while reiterating the value of human life and wholeness, stressed that prompt payment of insurance and other benefits due to officers who have met with some misfortunes due to the risky nature of policing in the country’s contemporary environment and unforeseen hazards of policing, would boost their morale and ensure they put in their best in service to the nation.

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Baba further promised better welfare packages for members of the police family either serving, retired, or slain in the line of duty to cement the “already existing esprit de corps” amongst the components of the police family.

According to the statement, the backlog payments were made possible through the IGP’s passionate drive to ensure that police officers are adequately catered for in the event of injury or permanent disability due to the risks associated with policing, and that families of deceased police officers are adequately catered for in the absence of their breadwinners.

The Star