#EndSARS: Lagos offers scholarships to children of slain police officers

The Lagos government says the children of police officers who died during the #EndSARS crisis in the state will be offered scholarships up to the university level.

Babajide Sanwo-Olu, governor of Lagos, disclosed this on Wednesday during a visit to the state police command headquarters.

According to a statement issued by Gboyega Akosile, chief press secretary to the governor, six police officers were killed, 36 were injured, while 29 divisional stations, 17 posts and 71 operational vehicles were burnt during the #EndSARS crisis in the state.

“As your governor, I have come here to take full responsibility for the loss you have suffered in terms of logistics,” Sanwo-Olu said.

“The commissioner of police has come forward with a number of requests, which we will need to address to boost the morale of officers after the last week’s event.

“The most important request is to offer scholarships to the children of officers that died. I have directed the Lagos state scholarship board, under the special adviser on education, to immediately award scholarships to the children of the slain officers.”

He said the state government will foot the hospital bills of injured officers, compensate the families of the deceased, and also take charge of burial arrangements.

The governor added that vehicles and motorcycles burnt will be replaced, the police cottage hospital in Ikeja will be upgraded, while the command headquarters will be connected to the state’s Independent Power Project (IPP) for constant electricity supply.

“Your uniform is not for oppression; it is a symbol of dignity and discipline. You must protect the fundamental rights of all citizens without compromising ethics of your duty,” he said.

“It is only when you do this that the citizens would see that we have a police that is truly responsible.”