Lucky Obukohwo, Reporting
Former Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Solomon Arase is dead.
He died at the age of 69 at Cedarcrest Hospital in Abuja.
Arase, Nigeria’s 18th Inspector-General of Police, was appointed in April 2015 by then-President Goodluck Jonathan.
Following his retirement in 2016, he continued to serve the country in various roles, most notably as Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC), a position he assumed in January 2023 under President Muhammadu Buhari.
He was later removed from the role in June 2024 by President Bola Tinubu.
A distinguished intelligence officer, Arase once headed the Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Bureau, the apex intelligence arm of the police.
He also served as Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State and later as Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of intelligence.
His career also included international service, notably a United Nations peacekeeping mission in Namibia.mission.
After his retirement from Police service, Arase was appointed Chairman of a Task Force responsible for the implementation of a state Anti-Community Development Association Law in Edo State.
As of press time, neither his family nor the Nigeria Police Force has issued an official confirmation of the development.
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 earned a Law degree from the University of Benin and a Master’s degree from the University of Lagos.