“A Distinguished Reformer” — Former IGP Solomon Arase Dies At 69

Former Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Solomon Ehigiator Arase has passed away at the age of 69. He died on Sunday at Cedarcrest Hospital in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

A family source confirmed his death to Channels Television, while the Force Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, also said police authorities would issue an official statement soon.

Arase, Nigeria’s 18th Inspector-General of Police, served in the position from April 2015 until his retirement on June 21, 2016, when he reached the statutory retirement age. In January 2023, former President Muhammadu Buhari appointed him as Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC), a position he held until June 2024.

Before becoming IGP, Arase headed the Force Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Bureau, the police’s top intelligence unit. Throughout his distinguished career, he held several key posts, including Principal Staff Officer to former IGPs, Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State, and Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of intelligence. He also represented Nigeria in Namibia under a United Nations peacekeeping mission and was a Fellow of the Nigerian Defence Academy.

Born on June 21, 1956, in Owan West Local Government Area of Edo State, Arase studied Political Science at Ahmadu Bello University, graduating in 1980, and joined the Nigeria Police Force in December 1981. He later obtained a Law degree from the University of Benin and a Master’s degree from the University of Lagos.

As IGP, Arase was widely respected for his dedication to police welfare and reform-driven leadership. He introduced several initiatives, including the Intelligence Response Team, the Complaint Response Unit to address police misconduct, and the Safer Highway Patrols, which improved security for travelers across the country. Even after leaving active service, he continued to contribute to policing reforms, particularly in election security and neutrality.

Beyond policing, Arase was deeply committed to education and youth empowerment. Through the Solomon Ehigiator Arase Foundation (SEAF), he provided scholarships to outstanding students, with a focus on children of deceased police officers and students from underserved communities.

In 2025, SEAF awarded scholarships to 29 beneficiaries in fields such as Medicine, Dentistry, Engineering, Criminology, Political Science, and Business Administration. The Foundation described the initiative as an investment in Nigeria’s future leaders, reflecting Arase’s lifelong values of integrity, service, and excellence.

Tributes have begun to pour in, with many describing him as a principled leader, reformer, and patriot who left an enduring imprint on Nigeria’s security landscape and national development.

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