Former Inspector-General of Police (IGP), and ex-chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC), Solomon Arase is dead.
IGP Arase (retd) reportedly died at Cedar Crest Hospital, Abuja on Sunday, August 31, 2025 at the age of 69.
This was confirmed by one of his close friends, who told Forefront News that the gentleman par excellence officer has gone to be with his maker.
Details surrounding his death of Arase, who served as the nation’s 18th Inspector General of Police between April 2015 and June 2016, were sketchy as at press time.
Arase, a distinguished officer, retired in June 2016 after attaining the mandatory retirement age of 60years.
The former IGP was known for his commitment to police reforms, intelligence-led policing, and efforts to improve community relations during his tenure.
Arase was appointed Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC) by former President Muhammadu Buhari in January 2023, a position he played a key role in overseeing police affairs and reforms.
He was removed as Chairman of the PSC by President Bola Tinubu in June 2024.
Until his death, Arase, who hailed from Owan West Local Government Area of Edo State, studied Political Science at Ahmadu Bello University and graduated in 1980, before he joined the Nigeria Police Force on December 1, 1981. He also obtained a Law degree from the University of Benin and a Master’s degree from the University of Lagos and also had advanced security training qualifications.
Until his appointment as IGP, Arase was head of the Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Bureau, the police force’s top intelligence unit.
During his career, he held several key positions, including Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State and Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of intelligence and also served in Namibia as part of a United Nations peacekeeping mission and was a Fellow of the Nigerian Defence Academy.
Tributes have begun pouring in from security experts, government officials, and colleagues who described him as a patriot and reform-minded officer who left an indelible mark on the Nigeria Police Force.
Funeral arrangements are yet to be announced by his family.
BIOGRAPHY
Solomon Ehigiator Arase was born 21 June 1956). He was retired Nigerian Police Officer. He was also a former chairman of the Nigeria Police Service Commission. He was appointed Chairman in January 2023 by the late President Muhammadu Buhari.
Arase also served as the 18th Inspector-General of Nigerian Police (IGP) after Suleiman Abba was sacked. He died on 31 August 2025.
Before his appointment as IGP, Arase was head of the topmost intelligence gathering unit of the Nigerian police, the Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Bureau.
■ Life and career
He attended Ahmadu Bello University for his undergraduate studies and graduated with political science degree in 1980.[3] He was recruited into the Nigerian Police a year after on 1 December 1981.
He also obtained another bachelor’s degree in Law from University of Benin as well as Masters from University of Lagos.
While in Police service, Arase served in various capacities including being Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State as well as serving intelligence gathering unit as Assistant Inspector General.
He was a Fellow of the Nigerian Defence Academy and had served in Namibia during the United Nations peacekeeping operation.
Arase retired from the force on 21 June 2016.[
On 21 June 2016, President Muhammadu Buhari appointed Ibrahim Kpotum Idris as Acting Inspector General of the Nigeria Police Force.
After his retirement from Police service, Arase was appointed Chairman of a Task Force responsible for the implementation of a state Anti-Community Development Association Law in Edo State.
Arase dedicated his post-retirement undertakings to legal practice, Security Consultancy with organizations such as the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), the European Centre for Electoral Support, the Human Rights Centre at the University of Oslo, Public Speaking, Research and other Academic engagements.
He was a member of the Committee on Prevention of Torture, Geneva Switzerland currently developing a universal protocol on Investigative Techniques.
On 24 January 2023, Arase was appointed Chairman of the Nigeria Police Service Commission by President Muhammadu Buhari.
■Awards
In October 2022, a Nigerian national honour of Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR) was conferred on him by President Muhammadu Buhari.
…Biography courtesy of Wikipedia
