Abuja, Nigeria – Former Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Solomon Arase has passed away at Cedarcrest Hospital, Abuja. He was 68.
As of the time of filing this report, neither his family nor the Nigeria Police Force had issued 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) in January 2023 by former President Muhammadu Buhari. However, he was removed from the role in June 2024 by President Bola Tinubu.
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 later obtained a Law degree from the University of Benin and a Master’s degree from the University of Lagos.
During his distinguished career, Arase headed the Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Bureau, the police force’s top intelligence unit. He also served as Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State and as Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of intelligence.
Internationally, he represented Nigeria as part of a United Nations peacekeeping mission in Namibia and was a Fellow of the Nigerian Defence Academy.
Arase retired from the Nigeria Police on June 21, 2016, after attaining the mandatory retirement age.
His death marks the passing of one of Nigeria’s most respected police chiefs, remembered for his decades of service in law enforcement and intelligence.
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