Features
Former IGP Arase passes away at 69
Written By: Emmanuel Ikhenebome
31 Aug 2025 03:55 PM
Abuja, Nigeria – Solomon Ehigiator Arase, a retired Nigerian police officer and former Inspector-General of Police (IGP), has reportedly passed away at Cedarcrest Hospital in Abuja. He was 69 years old.
The deceased’s son, Solomon Arase Jnr., announced the passing of his father on behalf of the family.
“The family seeks the understanding and prayers of friends, associates and well-wishers at this difficult moment, as they make necessary arrangements for his obsequious which will be announced in due course,” Arase Jnr. said in a statement obtained by BENDEL Mirror.
Arase, who served as Nigeria’s 18th Inspector-General of Police from April 2015 to June 2016, was a distinguished figure in the nation’s law enforcement community.
Born on June 21, 1956, in Owan West Local Government Area of Edo State, Arase had a remarkable career that spanned over three decades.
He joined the Nigeria Police Force on December 1, 1981, after graduating with a degree in Political Science from Ahmadu Bello University in 1980.
He later earned a Law degree from the University of Benin and a Master’s degree from the University of Lagos.
During his tenure as IGP, Arase was celebrated for introducing significant reforms aimed at enhancing the professionalism and efficiency of the Nigeria Police Force.
He established the Intelligence Response Team (IRT), which played a pivotal role in combating high-profile crimes, including the arrest of notorious kidnapper Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, popularly known as Evans.
Arase also championed human rights-driven and intelligence-led policing, emphasizing evidence-based investigations and reducing custodial violence.
Before his appointment as IGP, Arase headed the Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Bureau, the police force’s apex intelligence unit.
His career also included key positions such as Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State, Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of intelligence, and service in a United Nations peacekeeping mission in Namibia.
He was a Fellow of the Nigerian Defence Academy.After retiring from the police force in June 2016, upon reaching the mandatory retirement age, Arase continued to serve the nation in various capacities.
In January 2023, he was appointed Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC) by then-President Muhammadu Buhari, a role he held until June 2024, when he was removed by President Bola Tinubu.
As PSC Chairman, Arase worked to strengthen the recruitment, promotion, and disciplinary mechanisms of the police force, fostering a harmonious relationship between the PSC and the Nigeria Police Force.
Arase’s contributions extended beyond policing. Post-retirement, he engaged in legal practice, security consultancy with organizations such as the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), and academic pursuits with institutions like the European Centre for Electoral Support and the Human Rights Centre at the University of Oslo.
In Edo State, he chaired a task force responsible for implementing the state’s Anti-Community Development Association Law.
The news of Arase’s passing has sparked an outpouring of tributes on social media, with many Nigerians reflecting on his legacy as a reformist and intellectual cop.
However, details surrounding his death remain limited, pending official confirmation from his family or the Nigeria Police Force.
Arase’s tenure as IGP and PSC Chairman left an indelible mark on Nigeria’s security landscape, and his commitment to social justice and professionalism in policing will be remembered by many.
Meanwhile, Governor Monday Okpebholo has described the late IGP as a patriotic Nigerian and an illustrious Edo son whose contributions to the country's security architecture were immeasurable.
In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Fred Itua, Governor Okpebholo said the late Arase was a man of integrity and honor who served the nation with distinction, rising to the pinnacle of his career through sheer hard work and dedication.
The deceased’s son, Solomon Arase Jnr., announced the passing of his father on behalf of the family.
“The family seeks the understanding and prayers of friends, associates and well-wishers at this difficult moment, as they make necessary arrangements for his obsequious which will be announced in due course,” Arase Jnr. said in a statement obtained by BENDEL Mirror.
Arase, who served as Nigeria’s 18th Inspector-General of Police from April 2015 to June 2016, was a distinguished figure in the nation’s law enforcement community.
Born on June 21, 1956, in Owan West Local Government Area of Edo State, Arase had a remarkable career that spanned over three decades.
He joined the Nigeria Police Force on December 1, 1981, after graduating with a degree in Political Science from Ahmadu Bello University in 1980.
He later earned a Law degree from the University of Benin and a Master’s degree from the University of Lagos.
During his tenure as IGP, Arase was celebrated for introducing significant reforms aimed at enhancing the professionalism and efficiency of the Nigeria Police Force.
He established the Intelligence Response Team (IRT), which played a pivotal role in combating high-profile crimes, including the arrest of notorious kidnapper Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, popularly known as Evans.
Arase also championed human rights-driven and intelligence-led policing, emphasizing evidence-based investigations and reducing custodial violence.
Before his appointment as IGP, Arase headed the Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Bureau, the police force’s apex intelligence unit.
His career also included key positions such as Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State, Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of intelligence, and service in a United Nations peacekeeping mission in Namibia.
He was a Fellow of the Nigerian Defence Academy.After retiring from the police force in June 2016, upon reaching the mandatory retirement age, Arase continued to serve the nation in various capacities.
In January 2023, he was appointed Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC) by then-President Muhammadu Buhari, a role he held until June 2024, when he was removed by President Bola Tinubu.
As PSC Chairman, Arase worked to strengthen the recruitment, promotion, and disciplinary mechanisms of the police force, fostering a harmonious relationship between the PSC and the Nigeria Police Force.
Arase’s contributions extended beyond policing. Post-retirement, he engaged in legal practice, security consultancy with organizations such as the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), and academic pursuits with institutions like the European Centre for Electoral Support and the Human Rights Centre at the University of Oslo.
In Edo State, he chaired a task force responsible for implementing the state’s Anti-Community Development Association Law.
The news of Arase’s passing has sparked an outpouring of tributes on social media, with many Nigerians reflecting on his legacy as a reformist and intellectual cop.
However, details surrounding his death remain limited, pending official confirmation from his family or the Nigeria Police Force.
Arase’s tenure as IGP and PSC Chairman left an indelible mark on Nigeria’s security landscape, and his commitment to social justice and professionalism in policing will be remembered by many.
Meanwhile, Governor Monday Okpebholo has described the late IGP as a patriotic Nigerian and an illustrious Edo son whose contributions to the country's security architecture were immeasurable.
In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Fred Itua, Governor Okpebholo said the late Arase was a man of integrity and honor who served the nation with distinction, rising to the pinnacle of his career through sheer hard work and dedication.
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