Widows of policemen killed at Alakyo, Lafia Local Government Area of Nasarawa state by the Ombatse militia group, received cheques of N1 million each from the Nasarawa State government on Monday.
Gov. Umaru Al-Makura, who presented the cheques to the widows at the state Police Command in Lafia, said the money was meant to augment the burial rites of their late husbands.
The Governor, represented by Hajiya Zainab Abdulmumin, the Secretary to the State Government,SSG, urged the women to take the demise of their spouses in good fate and take solace in God.
The widows of late ACP, Mohammed Momoh, who led the operation and DSP Aliyu Zing received N3 million and N1.5 million respectively.
In a related development, the AIG zone 4, Mr Michael Zuokumor, has announced that the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Mohammed Abubakar has approved N1 million each for families of the dead officers.
The approval is said to be an immediate relief measure, while the Group Life Insurance packages of the officers were being worked out.
He said: “I am assuring you all that God will take over your welfare. The ultimate price your husbands paid for the country will never go unrewarded”.
Speaking on behalf of the widows, Mrs Mary Levis, appealed to the Federal Government to offer scholarship to the children of the late policemen up to tertiary level.
She also appealed to the government to consider pension benefits for the dead officers who were yet to attain pensionable age in service, given the circumstance that led to their death.
A sibling of one of the late officers, Corporal Matthew Onoja, who spoke in like manner appealed to the police to simplify the process of payment of the officers’ entitlements.
He said: “We are begging the police authority not to subject the widows and children of the late policemen to untold hardship in pursuing the payment of their entitlements.
“Most of them will not be able to withstand a rigorous process at the moment”.
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