Nigeria’s former Inspector-General of Police, Solomon Ehigiator Arase, has passed away at the age of 69.
According to reports, Arase died at Cedarcrest Hospital in Abuja on Sunday, August 31.
Persecondnews reports that as of press time, neither his family nor the Nigeria Police Force has issued an official statement confirming his death.
Arase had a long and illustrious career in law enforcement, serving as Nigeria’s 18th Inspector-General of Police from April 2015 to June 2016.
Born on June 21, 1956, in Owan West Local Government Area of Edo State, he studied Political Science at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, graduating in 1980, before joining 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.
During his tenure, he introduced several initiatives aimed at improving police effectiveness and accountability, including the Intelligence Response Team and the Complaint Response Unit.
He also served as Chairman of the Police Service Commission from January 2023 to June 2024.
Arase was widely respected for his dedication to police welfare and his reform-driven leadership.
He was known for his commitment to education, youth empowerment, and social impact, and founded the Solomon Ehigiator Arase Foundation, which awards scholarships to outstanding Nigerian students.
The foundation’s scholarship program aims to invest in Nigeria’s future leaders and build a more just and equitable society.
Arase’s legacy extends beyond his policing career.
He was a Fellow of the Nigerian Defence Academy and represented Nigeria in Namibia under a United Nations peacekeeping mission.
He also held several key positions, including Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State and Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of intelligence.
His contributions to policing reforms, particularly in election security and neutrality, have had a lasting impact on Nigeria’s security landscape.
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