By The Nigeria Police Force has announced the death of its 18th Inspector-General of Police and immediate past Chairman of the Police Service Commission, IGP Solomon Ehigiator Arase, CFR, who passed away in the early hours of Sunday, August 31, 2025, at Cedarcrest Hospital, Abuja, after a brief illness.
According to a press release issued by the Nigerian Police Force on their X (formerly Twitter) account., Solomon Arase’s death was confirmed to the incumbent Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, Ph.D., NPM, by his first son, Mr. Solomon Osabohien Arase Jnr.
Born on June 21, 1956, in Owan West Local Government Area of Edo State, Arase studied Political Science at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, before obtaining a Law degree from the University of Benin, a Master’s in Law from the University of Lagos, and later, a Ph.D. in Public Law from Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma.
He joined the Nigeria Police Force on December 1, 1981, and rose through the ranks, serving in various capacities, including Principal Staff Officer to three different IGPs between 2002 and 2008, Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State, pioneer Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of the Force Intelligence Bureau, and DIG Force Criminal Investigation Department.
In April 2015, he was appointed as the 18th indigenous Inspector-General of Police, a position he held until his retirement in June 2016. He was later appointed Chairman of the Police Service Commission on January 24, 2023, by former President Muhammadu Buhari, serving until June 2024. A Fellow of the Defence College and member of the prestigious Body of Benchers, Arase was widely respected for his dedication to police reform and national security.
During his tenure as IGP, Arase initiated reforms such as the establishment of the Complaint Response Unit, designed to provide citizens with swift responses to grievances and to enhance protection of human rights. He also championed police professionalism and community trust-building.
Beyond policing, he founded the Solomon Ehigiator Arase Foundation (SEAF), through which he awarded scholarships to outstanding Nigerian students, with particular focus on children of fallen police officers and underprivileged students.
The current Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, paid a condolence visit to Arase’s family in Abuja on Sunday, where he extended sympathy on behalf of officers and men of the Force. He described Arase as a man of integrity and innovation whose contributions would forever remain etched in Nigeria’s policing history.
In honor of the late IGP, the Nigeria Police Force has opened a condolence register at the Force Headquarters, Abuja, while directing that the police flag fly at half-mast across all Commands and Formations nationwide.
“The memory of late IGP Arase will forever remain in the heart of the Force and the country he so faithfully served,” the Police said in a statement signed by Force PRO, DCP Olumuyiwa Adejobi.
