Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, on Monday presented cheques totalling N55million to the families of security officers who lost their lives in the Ishawo area of Ikorodu after an ambush unleashed on them by militants.
The families of four police officers that died during the operation got N10million each, while an officer who sustained injury during the attack and still recuperating in the hospital, Sgt. Alexandra Ugadu, got N5million.
Also, a cheque of N10million was presented to the family of a military officer, Capt. A Mohammed, who lost his life during the attack.
The gallant officers were killed after successfully rescuing kidnapped victims kept in the riverine area by the militants.
The police officers’ whose families benefited from the death insurance scheme of the State Government are late Insp. Godwin Iroagbalahi, Insp. Francis Pemi, Sgt. Mamuda Dembo and Sgt. Idor Ekoro.
Speaking at the presentation ceremony, Governor Ambode said the move was in appreciation of the supreme sacrifices paid by the late officers in the course of ensuring the safety of residents of the State.
Ambode, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Tunji Bello, said the donation was in line with the pledge to review insurance benefits to security operatives in the State.
Mr Bello recalled that since coming on board, the Ambode administration immediately reviewed the insurance benefits for security operatives in the state with a pledge to pay N10million to any officer killed during operation, adding that the ceremony was in consonance with the earlier promise.
“This is to appreciate what the gallant officers have done; they sacrificed their lives in the course of protecting several of us and we have to appreciate them. As a matter of fact, if we don’t do this, who will? The governor has always said that we must continue to appreciate those who paid the supreme sacrifice for our lives because they died for us.
“We must continue to appreciate them because if we don’t do this, who will be ready to pay the supreme sacrifice for our safety? The officers are sent out to protect us and when they are going, they are not even sure of coming back and having paid the supreme sacrifice, should we leave them just like that, definitely not and it is in appreciation of what they have done that we are doing this,” Bello said.
The governor, while commiserating with the families of the late officers, assured that the state government would continue to support security officers and their families.
Responding on behalf of the beneficiaries, Lagos Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, commended the state government for the donations, which he described as a morale booster, saying that the gesture would go a long way in motivating officers.
He said: “On behalf of the Inspector General of Police, I stand to appreciate Lagos State Government for this morale boosting gesture that you have showed to our colleagues who, in the course of discharging their statutory duties to this nation, demonstrated bravery, gallantry and courage but unfortunately lost their lives in an encounter with criminal elements.”
Earlier, Governor Ambode, on behalf of the Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF) presented 20 brand new operational vehicles with modern communication gadgets to the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) of the state police command.
