Nigeria has been thrown into mourning following the death of former Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Solomon Ehigiator Arase. The distinguished security chief, who earned a reputation as a reformist and advocate of police welfare, passed away at Cedarcrest Hospital in Abuja on Sunday at the age of 68.
Arase, who served as the 18th Inspector-General of Police, was widely regarded as a reform-driven officer who championed professionalism, intelligence-led policing, and the welfare of his colleagues in uniform. After his retirement in 2016, he was appointed Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC) by former President Muhammadu Buhari in January 2023, a role he held until mid-2024.
Born on June 21, 1956, in Edo State’s Owan West Local Government Area, Arase studied Political Science at Ahmadu Bello University before joining the Nigeria Police Force in 1981. He later obtained a Law degree from the University of Benin and a Master’s degree from the University of Lagos. Over a career spanning more than three decades, he rose through the ranks, serving in key intelligence and command roles, including Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom, Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of intelligence, and Principal Staff Officer to multiple IGPs.
On the international stage, he represented Nigeria in Namibia under a United Nations peacekeeping mission and earned recognition as a Fellow of the Nigerian Defence Academy.
Arase is remembered for introducing initiatives that reshaped policing in Nigeria, among them the Intelligence Response Team, the Complaint Response Unit for citizens’ grievances, and the Safer Highway Patrols that enhanced security on major road networks. His tenure was marked by a push for accountability, improved service delivery, and a stronger bond between the police and the public.
Beyond policing, Arase dedicated himself to education and youth empowerment through the Solomon Ehigiator Arase Foundation (SEAF). In 2025, the foundation awarded scholarships to 29 students across various fields, with special consideration for children of fallen police officers and students from underserved communities. The foundation described the initiative as part of Arase’s lifelong vision of building “a more just and equitable society.”
Tributes have begun pouring in from security stakeholders, political leaders, and civil society, many hailing him as a principled leader, patriot, and reformer whose legacy would endure in Nigeria’s security architecture and social development.
Arase is survived by his family, colleagues, and the many whose lives he touched through service and philanthropy.
