Solomon Arase, who passed away at Cedar Crest Hospital, Abuja, in the early hours of Sunday, was a seasoned police officer and lawyer whose career spanned over three decades of service to Nigeria.
His career also included international service, notably a United Nations peacekeeping mission in Namibia.
As of press time, neither his family nor the Nigeria Police Force has issued an official confirmation of the development.
Here are five key facts about the late officer:
BACKGROUND AND EDUCATION
Born on 21 June 1956 in Owan West, Edo State, Solomon Arase earned a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Ahmadu Bello University, followed by a Law degree from the University of Benin and a master’s from the University of Lagos. He also holds a Master’s in Strategic Studies and is a Fellow of the Nigeria Defence College (fdc).
DECORATED POLICE CAREER AND LEADERSHIP
Arase joined the Nigerian Police Force in 1981, and his career spanned operations, investigation, administration, and intelligence. He served as Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom and as Assistant Inspector-General overseeing intelligence . He also served in a United Nations peacekeeping mission in Namibia .
REFORMS AS IGP (2015–2016)
Appointed the 18th Inspector-General of Police in April 2015, Arase introduced key reforms:
Formed the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) to tackle high-profile crimes;
Set up the Complaint Response Unit (CRU) to address police misconduct;
Improved forensic-capacity and community policing; and
Promoted human rights and accountability in policing .
He was confirmed as substantive IGP in May 2015 and vowed to dismantle roadblocks and prioritize officer welfare.
POST-RETIREMENT SERVICE AND LEADERSHIP
Upon retiring in June 2016, Arase chaired a task force in Edo State to implement anti-Community Development Association laws. He also engaged in security consultancy, legal practice, and contributed to international bodies like the Committee on Prevention of Torture in Geneva. In January 2023, he was appointed Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC), where he promoted merit-based recruitment, transparency, and professionalization of the force.
PHILANTHROPY AND LASTING LEGACY
Beyond policing, Dr. Arase was committed to youth development through the Solomon Ehigiator Arase Foundation (SEAF). His foundation provided scholarships in diverse fields—medicine, engineering, security studies—and aimed to empower young Nigerians, especially the children of deceased police officers.
