Prominent Nigerian law enforcement figure Solomon Ehigiator Arase, the former Inspector-General of Police and ex-Chairman of the Police Service Commission, has passed away at the age of 69. He died at Cedarcrest Hospital in Abuja at approximately 9 a.m. on Sunday after a brief illness, according to a statement released by his son, Solomon Arase Jr.


Born on June 21, 1956, in Owan West, Edo State, Arase rose through the ranks of the Nigeria Police Force, serving in key leadership roles including head of the Force Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Bureau and as Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State. He also held the positions of Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of intelligence and represented Nigeria in a UN peacekeeping mission in Namibia.

Arase was appointed the 18th Inspector-General of Police in April 2015 and served until his statutory retirement in June 2016. His tenure was marked by significant reforms, including launching the Intelligence Response Team (IRT), the Complaints Response Unit (CRU), Safer Highway Patrols, and a landmark ban on indiscriminate phone checks by police officers.

After retiring, he continued his public service commitment, being appointed Chairman of the Police Service Commission in January 2023 by the late President Muhammadu Buhari, a position he held until June 2024.

President Bola Tinubu, police officials, governors, and other dignitaries have expressed deep sorrow over Arase’s passing. Tinubu paid tribute to his dedication and transformational leadership, stating that Arase served meritoriously across multiple critical roles in the force. Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun described his death as a “deep pain” to the Nigeria Police Force.

Beyond policing, he founded the Solomon Ehigiator Arase Foundation (SEAF), providing scholarships to children of fallen officers and underserved youth. In 2025 alone, 29 students received awards in fields including Medicine, Engineering, Political Science, and Criminology.