CP Cross River Disburses Over ₦26 Million to Families of Fallen and Injured Officers in Calabar on Behalf of the Inspector General of Police

CP Rashid B. Afegbua handing over support to the Families of Fallen officers

By Oluchi Omai 

CALABAR, 11th November 2025 — In a moving ceremony that underscored the human cost of policing, Cross River State Police Commissioner Rashid B. Afegbua has handed over more than ₦26 million in financial support to the families of officers who have paid the ultimate price or suffered injuries while keeping communities safe on Behalf of the Inspector General of Police.

Gathered within the solemn confines of the Conference Hall at the State Police Headquarters in Diamond Hill, Calabar, fifty-one beneficiaries received cheques totalling ₦26,657,706.09 – a tangible expression of gratitude from the Nigeria Police Force leadership under Inspector General Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun.

The funds, drawn from the Group Life Assurance, IGP Family Welfare, and Group Personal Accident Schemes, represent more than mere financial assistance; they symbolise an institution standing by those left behind when duty claims its heaviest toll.

Commissioner Afegbua, addressing the gathering with both authority and tenderness, paid heartfelt tribute to the courage and dedication demonstrated by the fallen and injured officers. "These men and women answered the call when others might have stepped back," he remarked, his words resonating through the hushed hall. "The Nigeria Police Force does not abandon its own, nor those who have given so much in service to our communities."

He urged recipients to use the funds wisely while emphasising that this gesture reflects the Force's enduring commitment to supporting families through life's most challenging transitions. His message carried particular weight coming on a day when nations worldwide honour military veterans – a reminder that police officers, too, stand on the frontlines of public safety.

The ceremony, attended by senior command officials and management team members, unfolded with moments of quiet reflection interspersed with expressions of profound gratitude. When DSP Ekanem Okon rose to speak on behalf of the beneficiaries, his voice occasionally faltering with emotion, he articulated what many were feeling: deep appreciation for leadership that remembers and honours sacrifice long after the headlines fade.

"This support comes at a time when many of us feel most vulnerable," Okon shared, his words capturing the collective sentiment. "It reminds us that our loved ones' service mattered, that their sacrifice is remembered, and that we are not forgotten."

As cameras clicked to capture the concluding group photograph, the image told a powerful story: one of an institution fulfilling its moral obligation to those who serve and their families. Beyond the formalities and protocols, today's ceremony represented something profoundly human – a community of officers standing by their own, honouring the past while supporting the future.

For these families, the cheques represent more than financial relief; they are a promise kept, a debt honoured, and a recognition that those who protect society deserve protection in return, especially when tragedy strikes in the line of duty.