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Former Inspector-General of Police (IGP) and ex-chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC), Solomon Arase, has passed away.
Family sources confirmed that Arase died in an Abuja hospital after a battle with an undisclosed illness.
Born on June 21, 1956, in Owan West Local Government Area of Edo State, Arase had a distinguished career in law enforcement. He served as Nigeria’s 18th Inspector-General of Police between April 2015 and June 2016 before retiring from active service.
Following his retirement, he was appointed chairman of the Police Service Commission in January 2023 by former President Muhammadu Buhari. However, his tenure was cut short in June 2024 when President Bola Tinubu relieved him of the position.
Arase earned a degree in Political Science from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria in 1980 and joined the Nigeria Police Force on December 1, 1981. He later obtained a Law degree from the University of Benin and a Master’s degree from the University of Lagos.
Over the course of his career, Arase held several key positions within the force. He served as Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State and was the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Intelligence. He also led the Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Bureau — the Force’s top intelligence unit.
His contributions extended beyond Nigeria. Arase served in Namibia under a United Nations peacekeeping mission and was recognized as a Fellow of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA).
He retired from the Nigeria Police Force on June 21, 2016, upon reaching the mandatory retirement age.
Solomon Arase’s passing marks the end of a remarkable chapter in Nigerian policing.
