Former Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Solomon Arase has died at Cedarcrest Hospital in Abuja.
As of the time of this report, neither his family nor the Nigeria Police Force has released an official statement confirming the development.
Arase, who served as Nigeria’s 18th Inspector-General of Police, was later appointed Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC). Before his appointment as IGP, he headed the Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Bureau, the police’s top intelligence unit.
Born on June 21, 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 December 1, 1981. He went on to earn a Law degree from the University of Benin and a Master’s degree from the University of Lagos.
During his distinguished career, he served in various capacities, including Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State and Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of intelligence. He also participated in a United Nations peacekeeping mission in Namibia and was a Fellow of the Nigerian Defence Academy.
Arase retired from the police service on June 21, 2016, after attaining the mandatory retirement age. In January 2023, former President Muhammadu Buhari appointed him Chairman of the Police Service Commission, a position he held until June 2024 when President Bola Tinubu removed him from office.
Arase’s passing marks the end of a decades-long career in public service, where he played key roles in intelligence, policing reforms, and law enforcement administration.
