The shocking discovery that the money meant for the widow of a slain police officer and his children in Nasarawa State was stolen has led to the arrest of two people.
Commissioner of Police in Nasarawa State, Umaru Shehu, disclosed that the suspects are in detention and currently telling the police what they know about the ‘hijacking’ of N2 million being part of the money given by the Nasarawa State Government and the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, to widows and children of officers killed during the May 7 attack on security agents in Alakio, Nasarawa State.
In this case, the N2 million was meant for one of the widows and her children.
Shehu told journalists in Lafia, the State capital, that the two brothers of one of the deceased officers from Plateau collected the money from the widow who had two daughters and gave her only N20, 000.
The widow, who decided not to take the issue calmly, according to the police Commissioner, reported the case.
According to the widow who was not named for fear of possible attack, she and her children were subjected to different manners of humiliation after which she was ejected from the family house with her children.
The Commissioner said when the suspects were invited and interrogated, they confessed collecting the money from the woman and that they had spent N700, 000 for the funeral rites of the deceased police officer. They were however able to refund N1.3million.
To other widows who may be so treated, the Commissioner urged that they come out to make formal report to the police adding that to ensure transparency, each widow has been directed to open an account.
CP Shehu also warned relatives of victims of the killing to desist from claiming money meant for the upkeep of the children of deceased officers urging instead that they should relate with the deceaseds’ families in the fear of God.
It could be recalled that the policemen, over 20, were among several people killed in an ambush by men of Ombatse militia group at Alakio village about 10 km from Lafia in May this year.
