Former Inspector-General of Police, Solomon Arase, has died at the age of 69.
Arase passed away on Sunday at Cedar Crest Hospital in Abuja, the nation’s capital. A family member confirmed his death, while the Force Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, also confirmed the news, noting that an official statement would follow.
Arase, Nigeria’s 18th Inspector-General of Police, later became Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC). Before his appointment as IGP, he headed the Force Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Bureau, the police’s lead intelligence unit.
Born on 21 June 1956 in Owan West Local Government Area of Edo State, Arase studied Political Science at Ahmadu Bello University, graduating in 1980, before joining the Nigeria Police Force on 1 December 1981. He later obtained a Law degree from the University of Benin and a Master’s degree from the University of Lagos.
During his distinguished career, he held several key roles, including Principal Staff Officer to former IGPs, Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State, and Assistant Inspector-General of Police for intelligence. He also served under the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Namibia and was a Fellow of the Nigerian Defence Academy.
Arase retired from the Force on 21 June 2016, upon reaching the statutory retirement age. In January 2023, then-President Muhammadu Buhari appointed him Chairman of the Police Service Commission, a post he held until June 2024.
He earned respect for championing police welfare and driving reforms. As IGP, he introduced initiatives such as the Intelligence Response Team, the Complaint Response Unit to tackle police misconduct, and the Safer Highway Patrols, which enhanced security for travellers nationwide. Even in retirement, he continued to advise on policing reforms, particularly in election security and neutrality.