Police pay ₦2.32bn to families of fallen officers

Crime Diary

ABUJA, Nigeria (NPA) — The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, has presented cheques totalling ₦2,317,177,094 to 2,971 beneficiaries and next of kin of police officers who died in the line of duty.

The payment was made on Thursday, Sept. 3, 2026, in fulfilment of outstanding insurance obligations to families of fallen police officers.

According to a statement by the Nigeria Police Force New Media Officer, ACP Aliyu Giwa, the payment covered insurance policy years from 2017 to 2025, including amounts previously recovered from insurance companies following years of partial settlements.

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Giwa said all outstanding debts relating to the claims had now been resolved.

“The payment of ₦2,317,177,094.00 was not an act of charity or sympathy, but the fulfilment of a solemn obligation,” the statement said.

It noted that the beneficiaries were families whose loved ones left home for police duty and did not return, leaving spouses to raise children alone and parents to mourn sons and daughters who had served the nation.

The IGP acknowledged that no financial compensation could replace a lost loved one, but said the payment was intended to provide practical support and reaffirm the Force’s commitment to honouring the sacrifices of its personnel.

Disu also directed the Force Insurance Unit to intensify awareness campaigns across all police commands to ensure that officers and their families understood their insurance rights and the procedures for accessing available benefits.

ACP Lydia Ameh, who also spoke on the initiative, reiterated the Insurance Unit’s commitment to ensuring faster and more efficient processing of claims.

“To the 2,971 families who received cheques today, your loved ones served Nigeria with unwavering dedication.

“Your loved ones are not forgotten. They never were,” the statement said.