The Kwara State Police Command has presented cheques totalling N10.6m to the families of 19 police officers who died in the line of duty.

The cheques, valued at N10,613,786.50, were presented on Monday at the command headquarters in Ilorin by the state Commissioner of Police, Ojo Adekimi, on behalf of the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu.

A statement issued by the command's Police Public Relations Officer, Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, on Tuesday said the gesture was aimed at supporting the families left behind by officers who died while serving the country.

According to the statement, the presentation was part of the Nigeria Police Force's efforts to sustain welfare interventions for the dependants of deceased personnel.

Presenting the cheques, Adekimi urged the beneficiaries to use the funds judiciously, particularly for the welfare and education of their families.

The commissioner said the financial assistance could not replace the deceased officers but demonstrated the Force's recognition of their sacrifices and concern for the welfare of their dependants.

"While no financial assistance can replace a loved one, this gesture demonstrates that the sacrifices of our deceased officers and the welfare of their dependants remain important to the Nigeria Police Force," he said.

Adekimi also commended the IGP for sustaining welfare initiatives designed to support the families of police personnel who died in service.

He said the intervention would provide some relief to the beneficiaries and reassure serving personnel that the Force remained concerned about the wellbeing of their families.

Speaking on behalf of the 19 beneficiaries, M.T. Moshood thanked the IGP and the Nigeria Police Force for remembering the families of the deceased officers.

Moshood described the intervention as a meaningful demonstration that the families of officers who died in service had not been forgotten.

The command said it remained committed to personnel welfare while honouring the sacrifices of officers who lost their lives in the service of the nation.