The Nigeria Police Force has released ₦2.317 billion in insurance and welfare benefits to 2,971 beneficiaries and the next-of-kin of officers who died while serving the country.
Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, presented the cheques to the beneficiaries on Thursday at the Force Headquarters in Abuja under the Group Life Assurance, Group Personal Accident and IGP Family Welfare Schemes.
The payment, totaling ₦2,317,177,094, covers claims from several insurance policy years, including 2017/2018, 2018/2019, 2020/2021, 2021/2022, 2022/2023, and 2024/2025.
Disu said the money included outstanding balances recovered from insurance companies after earlier partial settlements.
“Today, I am pleased to present benefits to 2,971beneficiaries and next-of-kin of deceased Police Officers amounting to ₦2,317,177,094.00. 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.
The payment comes against the backdrop of continued losses among police personnel deployed to confront armed groups and other criminal elements across the country.
Disu recalled officers killed in Buni-Yadi, Yobe State, members of the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit who died during a rescue operation in Zamfara State, and 10 Special Intervention Squad personnel killed in an encounter with suspected bandits in Kebbi State last month.
The Kebbi incident occurred on 10 August along the Rafin Makuku axis of Sakaba Local Government Area. Police said 10 personnel and two civilians were killed, while at least 17 suspected bandits were neutralised during the confrontation.
“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,” the IGP said.
For the families receiving the payments, however, the benefits come in place of loved ones whose absence cannot be compensated for financially.
“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,” Disu said.
He urged the beneficiaries to use the funds judiciously, particularly towards the education and welfare of children and other dependents left behind by the deceased officers.
The IGP said his administration would continue to prioritize the welfare of police personnel and their families, including improvements in working conditions, healthcare, accommodation, and access to legitimate benefits.
“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,” he said.
The police chief also called on insurance companies working with the Force to settle claims promptly, describing the benefits as an important source of support for families who have 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.
The Force said the latest disbursement formed part of efforts to clear outstanding insurance claims and strengthen its welfare system for serving and deceased personnel.
As part of the same effort, the Force Insurance Unit has, in the past two months, visited six commands and more than 50 divisions and formations in the Federal Capital Territory to educate personnel on their insurance entitlements and how to access them.
Disu said the sensitization was intended to ensure that serving officers and their families understood the procedures for making claims and accessing available benefits.
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