Ex-IGP Solomon Arase Dies at 69

Former Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Solomon Arase has passed away at Cedarcrest Hospital in Abuja.

As of the time of filing this report, neither his family nor the Nigeria Police Force has 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).

Before becoming IGP, he headed the Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Bureau, the police force’s top intelligence unit.

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, and joined the Nigeria Police Force on December 1, 1981.

He later obtained a Law degree from the University of Benin as well as a Master’s degree from the University of Lagos.

During his career, he held several key positions, including Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State and Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of intelligence.

He also served in Namibia as part of a United Nations peacekeeping mission and was a Fellow of the Nigerian Defence Academy.

Arase retired from the Police on June 21, 2016, after reaching the mandatory retirement age.

He was appointed as the Chairman of the Police Service Commission in January 2023 by the late President Muhammadu Buhari. He was removed from office by President Bola Tinubu in June 2024.