ABUJA: Nigeria has lost one of its most respected police chiefs, former Inspector-General of Police IGP, Solomon Ehigiator Arase who passed away at Cedarcrest Hospital, Abuja.
Arase, who served as the country’s 18th IGP before becoming Chairman of the Police Service Commission PSC, was widely regarded as a reform-driven leader committed to police welfare, accountability, and professionalism.
Born on June 21, 1956, in Owan West Local Government Area of Edo State, he 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.
His career in the Force spanned several strategic roles — from heading the Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Bureau, to serving as Principal Staff Officer to successive IGPs, Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State, and Assistant Inspector-General in charge of intelligence. He also represented Nigeria in a UN peacekeeping mission in Namibia and was a Fellow of the Nigerian Defence Academy.
Arase retired on June 21, 2016, and in January 2023 was appointed by then-President Muhammadu Buhari as Chairman of the Police Service Commission, a position he held until June 2024.
During his tenure as IGP, he initiated far-reaching reforms, including the establishment of the Intelligence Response Team, the Complaint Response Unit to check police misconduct, and Safer Highway Patrols, which boosted security on major roads. Even after retirement, he remained deeply engaged in security sector reforms, especially around election security and police neutrality.
Beyond policing, Arase was passionate about education and youth empowerment. Through the Solomon Ehigiator Arase Foundation (SEAF), he offered scholarships to bright but disadvantaged students, particularly children of fallen police officers. In 2025, the Foundation supported 29 students across fields such as Medicine, Dentistry, Engineering, Criminology, Political Science, and Business Administration.
He is remembered not just as a principled cop but as a patriot, reformer, and mentor who left an enduring mark on Nigeria’s security architecture and human capital development.
