Former Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Solomon Ehigiator Arase has died at Cedarcrest Hospital in Abuja. He was 69.
Arase, who served as Nigeria’s 18th Inspector-General of Police, later became Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC) following his appointment by former President Muhammadu Buhari in January 2023. He held the role until June 2024.
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 distinguished career, he held several key positions, including Head of the Force Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Bureau, Principal Staff Officer to successive IGPs, Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom, and Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of intelligence. He also represented Nigeria in Namibia during a United Nations peacekeeping mission and was a Fellow of the Nigerian Defence Academy.
Arase retired on June 21, 2016, after reaching the statutory age of 60. His tenure as IGP was marked by reforms aimed at strengthening accountability and professionalism. Notable initiatives under his leadership included the Intelligence Response Team, the Complaint Response Unit to address misconduct, and the Safer Highway Patrols, which enhanced security for travelers.
Beyond policing, Arase devoted himself to education and youth empowerment. Through the Solomon Ehigiator Arase Foundation (SEAF), he awarded scholarships to outstanding students, particularly children of deceased police officers and young people from underserved communities. In 2025, SEAF supported 29 students across fields such as Medicine, Dentistry, Engineering, Political Science, and Criminology.
The Foundation described the scholarship scheme as an investment in future leaders and a reflection of Arase’s lifelong values of integrity, service, and excellence.
Tributes have continued to pour in for the late IGP, remembered as a reformer, patriot, and principled leader who left an enduring legacy in Nigeria’s policing and social development.
 Solomon Ehigiator Arase has died at Cedarcrest Hospital in Abuja. He was 69.){kind=link}