Former Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Solomon Ehigiator Arase has died at Cedarcrest Hospital in Abuja. He was 68 years old.
Arase served as Nigeria’s 18th IGP and was later appointed Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC). Before becoming IGP, he headed the Force 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. He joined the Nigeria Police Force on December 1, 1981, and later earned a Law degree from the University of Benin as well as a Master’s degree from the University of Lagos.
Throughout his career, Arase served in several strategic positions, including Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State, Principal Staff Officer to former IGPs, and Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of intelligence. He also represented Nigeria in Namibia under a United Nations peacekeeping mission.
He retired from the police on June 21, 2016, upon reaching the statutory retirement age. In January 2023, he was appointed Chairman of the Police Service Commission by then-President Muhammadu Buhari, a position he held until June 2024.
Arase was also active in education and youth empowerment. Through the Solomon Ehigiator Arase Foundation (SEAF), he awarded scholarships to children of deceased police officers and students from underserved communities. In 2025, 29 students across Medicine, Engineering, Criminology, Political Science, and Business Administration benefited from the scholarship program.
His death marks the end of a long career in policing and public service.
For more stories like this visit naijabeats.com
