The Bayelsa State Government has extended heartfelt condolences and financial assistance to the family of Inspector Warilamini Itaita, a police officer who tragically went missing while participating in a rescue mission in the Oluasiri community, Nembe Local Government Area, following a boat mishap.
Inspector Itaita, 38, who hailed from Arogbo in Ondo State, was attached to the Anti-Vice/Sea Piracy team in Yenagoa.
He went missing on September 20, 2024, during a mission to rescue passengers involved in the incident. Despite ongoing efforts to locate him over the past month, his body has yet to be found.
In a meeting with the deceased officer’s family on Monday, Brigadier General Eric Angaye (Rtd), the Coordinator of the Bayelsa State Community Safety Corps, conveyed the state’s sympathies and support.
The meeting took place at General Angaye’s office in the Government House, Yenagoa. He explained that the state had been actively involved in the search for Inspector Itaita but, unfortunately, they were yet to recover his remains.
General Angaye announced that Governor Senator Douye Diri, on behalf of the Bayelsa State Government, had donated the sum of N5 million to assist the family with the traditional burial rites of Inspector Itaita, pending the disbursement of his death benefits by the Nigeria Police Force.
The financial support is aimed at helping the family during their mourning period and providing some relief as they navigate this difficult time.
Responding on behalf of the family, Mrs. Faith Itaita, the widow of the late officer, expressed her profound gratitude to the Bayelsa State Government, particularly Governor Douye Diri, for their timely and compassionate gesture. She acknowledged that the support would go a long way in easing their grief and helping the family through this tragic loss.
Mrs. Itaita thanked the administration for standing by them in their moment of sorrow, noting that the government’s recognition of her husband’s service provided a measure of comfort during such a painful time.