Abuja, Nigeria – Former Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Solomon Ehigiator Arase has died at Cedarcrest Hospital in Abuja.
Arase, Nigeria’s 18th Inspector-General of Police, also served as Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC) following his appointment by former President Muhammadu Buhari in January 2023. He held the position until mid-2024.
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 before joining the Nigeria Police Force in December 1981. He later obtained a Law degree from the University of Benin and a Master’s degree from the University of Lagos.
During his career, he held several high-profile positions, including Principal Staff Officer to former IGPs, Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State, and Assistant Inspector-General in charge of intelligence. He also headed the Force Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Bureau and represented Nigeria in a United Nations peacekeeping mission in Namibia.
Arase retired from the police in June 2016 but remained active in security reforms. He introduced initiatives such as the Intelligence Response Team, the Complaint Response Unit, and Safer Highway Patrols, which enhanced road security nationwide.
Beyond policing, Arase was passionate about education and social impact. Through the Solomon Ehigiator Arase Foundation (SEAF), he supported youth empowerment and provided scholarships to Nigerian students, particularly children of late police officers and those from disadvantaged communities. In 2025, the foundation awarded scholarships to 29 students in fields ranging from Medicine and Engineering to Political Science and Business Administration.
He is remembered as a reform-driven police chief, a defender of integrity, and a patriot who left a lasting mark on Nigeria’s security system and educational development.
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