Nigeria has lost one of its foremost police chiefs, as former Inspector-General of Police (IGP) and erstwhile Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC), Solomon Arase, has been confirmed dead at the age of 69.
Arase reportedly passed away on Sunday at Cedarcrest Hospital, Abuja. As of the time of filing this report, details surrounding his death remained sketchy, as neither his family nor the Nigeria Police Force had issued an official statement.
Arase, who became the nation’s 18th Inspector-General of Police, served between April 2015 and June 2016 before bowing out of service. He was later appointed as Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC) in January 2023 by former President Muhammadu Buhari, a position he held until June 2024 when President Bola Tinubu relieved him of the role.
Born on June 21, 1956, in Owan West Local Government Area of Edo State, Arase studied Political Science at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, graduating in 1980. He joined the Nigeria Police Force on December 1, 1981, and went on to obtain a Law degree from the University of Benin as well as a Master’s degree from the University of Lagos.
Within the Force, Arase was regarded as one of the most cerebral officers of his generation. Before his elevation as IGP, he headed the Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Bureau, the apex intelligence unit of the Police. He also held various top appointments, including Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State and Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Intelligence.
His service extended beyond Nigeria, as he participated in international peacekeeping operations in Namibia under the auspices of the United Nations. He was also a Fellow of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA).
After reaching the statutory retirement age, Arase disengaged from the Police on June 21, 2016.
Until his death, Arase remained a respected voice on policing and security reforms in Nigeria.
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