Ebonyi State Government, Wednesday, gave N1 million each to families of four deceased policemen who died in an accident while returning from a special duty in the state.
The state Commissioner for Police, Mr Aliyu Garba, formerly presented the cash donation to the bereaved families at the Police Officers mess, Abakaliki.
He regretted that the deceased didn’t die in the battlefield as they died in auto crash after they were done with their official assignment.
The policemen on February 3, were involved in an accident at Ishieke Junction, along Abakaliki-Enugu highway after their peacekeeping mission to Ezza-Effium communities in Ohaukwu Local Government Area of the state.
CP, Aliyu revealed that out of fourteen officers in the police Hilux van returning from the peacekeeping mission, the command lost four persons in the fatal accident, while ten sustained various degrees of injuries.
During the official presentation, he commended the state government for it’s support to the police, adding that Governor David Umahi, also paid the hospital bills of the hospitalized officers.
He assured the deceased families that the command will see to the Insurance entitlements of the late officers, corporative, gratuity, pension and burial expenses.
“We will pay all, just be patient with us. Your husbands died in active duty and we must do our own part. The command will send a voluntary letter to officers so that anything anyone has he/she can donate no matter how small.
“Regrettably, our personnel were not defeated at the battle zone. Rather, their untimely departure was as a result of an unfortunate ghastly motor accident on Feb. 3, 2021, while returning from Effium, the crisis area between Ezza and Effium.
“Today, I invite the families and relatives of the police personnel to formerly commiserate and render to them the generous gestures of the state governor, Chief David Umahi.
“On this note, on behalf of the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Mohammed Adamu, I formally present the cash donations to the families of the deceased, who are all present here,” CP Aliyu said.
The deceased were, ASP Ochieme Emmanuel, who was the commander of the team, Edeth Ekpo, Sgt. Ifeanyi Ituma, and Police Constable James Chukwuebuka.
Retired officer, Eshiya Emmanuel, pleaded with CP Aliyu, to appeal to the Inspector General of Police, Mr Mohammed Adamu, to absorb the late officers wives by giving them menial jobs or engage them as police constables, stating that such was the case in the past.
He said engaging them will help them to have regular means of feeding their children.
The retired ASP advised police officers to always protect themselves as they are always the target when issues come up.
“I want to advise our men in the force to protect themselves. Policemen in the country now are the target of every Nigerian without no just course.
“Serving your country has become a problem. Your lives should be important than anyone else’s. The gun they gave to you is for you to protect yourself. It is when you protect yourself that you can protect others.
Recall that the two communities of Effium and Ezza Effium have been in crisis due to the leadership tussle between the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in the area.
Over 30 persons have been killed in the crisis, while many houses have been burnt down.