Former Inspector-General of Police Solomon Arase passes away at 69

Solomon Arase, a former Inspector-General of Police, has passed away at the age of 69.

It was gathered that Arase died on Sunday at Cedar Crest Hospital in Abuja, the nation’s capital. A family source confirmed the news to Channels Television on Sunday.

Muyiwa Adejobi, the Force Public Relations Officer, also verified Arase’s passing, indicating that the police authorities would soon release an official statement.

Arase served as Nigeria’s 18th Inspector-General of Police and was appointed Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC) after his tenure. Prior to becoming IGP, he led the Force Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Bureau, the premier intelligence unit of the Nigerian police.

Born on June 21, 1956, in Owan West Local Government Area of Edo State, Arase earned a degree in Political Science from Ahmadu Bello University in 1980 before joining 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.

Throughout his career, Arase held numerous strategic roles, including Principal Staff Officer to former IGPs, Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State, and Assistant Inspector-General of Police overseeing intelligence. His international experience included representing Nigeria in Namibia as part of a United Nations peacekeeping mission, and he was recognized as a Fellow of the Nigerian Defence Academy.

Retiring from the Force on June 21, 2016, upon reaching the statutory retirement age, Arase was appointed Chairman of the Police Service Commission by then-President Muhammadu Buhari in January 2023, a position he maintained until June 2024.

Arase was widely respected for his commitment to police welfare and reform-oriented leadership. He implemented critical initiatives such as the Intelligence Response Team, the Complaint Response Unit to combat police misconduct, and the Safer Highway Patrols aimed at improving security for travelers. Even after his retirement, he remained dedicated to advancing policing reforms, particularly in the areas of election security and impartiality.

Source: Channels TV