From:  Moshood Adebayo

Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State, on Monday, assured that his administration would continue to support security officers and their families in the state.

Governor Ambode spoke, while presenting cheques totaling N55 million to families of security officers who lost their lives in the recent Ishawo, Ikorodu crisis, during which  many police, officers were killed by suspected militants.

The gallant officers were killed after successfully rescuing kidnapped victims kept in the riverine area by the militants.

Represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Tunji Bello, the governor said the donation was in line with the pledge to review insurance benefits to security operatives in the state.

He said the presentation was in consonance with the earlier promise of  the  review of the insurance benefits for security operatives in the  state with a pledge to pay N10million to any officer killed while on active service.

His words: “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,” he said.

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.

The families of four police officers that died during the operation got N10 million 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 N10 million was presented to the family of a military officer, Capt. A Mohammed who lost his life during the attack.

Those, whose families benefitted from the state insurance scheme  are the late Insp. Godwin Iroagbalahi, Insp. Francis Pemi, Sgt. Mamuda Dembo and Sgt. Idor Ekoro.