By Tonia Okereke
President Bola Tinubu and the three former Inspectors-General of Police have mourned the former IGP Solomon Arase, who passed away in Abuja at the age of 69.
Arase, who served as Nigeria’s 18th Inspector-General of Police and later as Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC), died on Sunday morning at Cedarcrest Hospital, Abuja, after a brief illness.
His family confirmed his death in a statement signed by his son, Solomon Arase Jnr.
The statement read in part:
“The former Inspector-General of Police passed on at about 9 a.m. on Sunday, August 31, 2025, at Cedarcrest Hospital, Abuja, after a brief illness. After a meritorious service as the Inspector-General of Police, Dr. Arase served as Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC). He was also a member of the Body of Benchers.
“The family seeks the understanding and prayers of friends, associates and well-wishers at this difficult time as arrangements for his burial will be announced in due course.”
Born on June 21, 1956, in Owan West LGA of Edo State, Arase studied Political Science at Ahmadu Bello University and joined the Nigeria Police Force on December 1, 1981. He later earned a Law degree from the University of Benin and a Master’s degree from the University of Lagos.
Before his appointment as IGP in 2015, Arase served as head of the Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Bureau, Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State, and Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of intelligence. He also served in Namibia on a UN peacekeeping mission and was a Fellow of the Nigerian Defence Academy.
He retired from the police on June 21, 2016, and was appointed PSC Chairman in January 2023 by then-President Muhammadu Buhari.
Tinubu Mourns
Reacting to the death of the former IGP, President Bola Tinubu described it as a great loss to the country.
“Arase served the police force meritoriously from 1981 to 2016. During his career, he led tactical, operational, and intelligence units, including the UN Peacekeeping mission in Namibia, and served as Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom.
“He was Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Force Intelligence Bureau (FIB), and Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Force Criminal Investigation Department. After retirement, he continued to serve the nation in public roles, including as Chairman of the Police Service Commission and head of the Task Force on implementing the Edo State Anti-CDA Law.
His expertise extended to consultancy roles with the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), the European Centre for Electoral Support, the Human Rights Centre at the University of Oslo, and as a member of the UN Committee on the Prevention of Torture in Geneva.
“I pray for the peaceful repose of this dedicated security expert, whose contributions will be deeply missed by our nation.”
Another former IGP, Mike Okiro mourned Arase. saying: “We lost a gem. We lost a wonderful patriot.” Former IGP Ogbonna Onovo, visibly shaken, could not contain his grief. In the condolence register, he wrote “Solo way, my dear brother, I never believed it would end like this. Last night you were on the path to recovery, but alas, it ended this way. Good night, Solo.”
On his part, former IGP Suleiman Abba, who walked in at 5:50 p.m., told Vanguard: “Well, it is truly unfortunate, but you know, death comes to all of us. He lived a good life, and I think that is what we should all pray for that everyone on earth lives well so that collectively we all benefit. Retired IGP Arase was a good symbol of that. He lived a worthy life. He was almost perfect in his performance, and as an intellectual, it is difficult to fault him. But God knows best. The most important and most consoling thing is that he lived a good life. I pray Almighty God gives the family, and all of us who are bereaved, the strength to bear this irreparable loss. May his soul rest in peace.”
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