Former IGP Solomon Arase dies in Abuja at 69

RYNI News | Omotayo Stephen . O
1 September 2025

Abuja, Nigeria — The nation woke up to somber news on Saturday as reports emerged of the passing of Solomon Ehigiator Arase, Nigeria’s 18th Inspector-General of Police and former Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC). He died in Abuja at the Cedarcrest Hospital.

Arase’s death closes the chapter on a life of remarkable service to Nigeria — a man whose name became synonymous with reform, discipline, and a human-centered approach to policing. Born on June 21, 1956, in Edo State’s Owan West Local Government Area, Arase embodied the Nigerian story of grit, perseverance, and public service.

After studying Political Science at Ahmadu Bello University in 1980, he joined the Nigeria Police Force the following year, launching a career that would span more than three decades. He later fortified his intellectual arsenal with a Law degree from the University of Benin and a Master’s degree from the University of Lagos.

Within the Force, Arase was known not only for his sharp intelligence but also for his ability to balance firmness with fairness. He rose steadily through the ranks, serving as Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom, Principal Staff Officer to successive Inspectors-General, and eventually Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of intelligence. His international footprint was also significant, having represented Nigeria on a United Nations peacekeeping mission in Namibia.

Appointed Inspector-General of Police in April 2015, Arase wasted no time in rolling out initiatives that modernized policing. He strengthened the Intelligence Response Team, launched the Complaint Response Unit to give citizens a voice against misconduct, and restructured highway patrols to restore safety for travelers nationwide. Analysts hailed him as a “thinking policeman,” a reputation reinforced by his focus on community trust and welfare of rank-and-file officers.

Even after his statutory retirement in June 2016, Arase remained active in public life. His appointment in January 2023 as Chairman of the Police Service Commission underscored the trust successive governments placed in his integrity and expertise.

Away from uniforms and medals, Arase invested deeply in the next generation through the Solomon Ehigiator Arase Foundation (SEAF). Only last year, the foundation awarded scholarships to 29 students, many of them children of late police officers, in fields ranging from Medicine and Engineering to Criminology and Political Science. For him, it was more than charity — it was a deliberate effort to craft a fairer, more empowered Nigeria.

Today, tributes pour in for a man remembered as a patriot, reformer, and mentor whose legacy extends beyond the barracks. In the words of one admirer: “Arase did not just serve the Force — he served the nation, and he served the future.”

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