Northern governors redeem monetary pledge to widows of slain policemen

Widows of the scores of policemen killed in Alakyo last year were on Tuesday presented with N34 million cheque by the Northern Governors’ Forum, more than one year after the pledge was made.

The forum made a pledge of N100 million on July 4, 2013, a month after the ill-fated Alakyo operation where about 74 security operatives were killed.

The cheque of N34 million was presented by Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura of Nasarawa State, at the state police command headquarters, was only a part of the donation pledged by the northern governors.

The governor, who was represented by Permanent Secretary, Cabinet Affairs, Alhaji Abubaka Sadiq Ishaq said the amount was meant to cushion the hardship being experienced by the families of the fallen security operatives. He urged the widows not to give up hope; and advised them to us the money for the upkeep of their families including education of the children.

Each of the women was given a cheque of N459, 407.45 at the occasion which was witnessed by the state police hierarchy, led by the commissioner of police, Mr. Usman Yakubu.

Leader of the network of widows of the slain policemen, Mrs. Afiniki Daniel expressed gratitude over the donation, and appealed to the forum to redeem the remaining part of the pledge.