Former Inspector-General of Police (IGP) and immediate past Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC), Solomon Arase, Ph.D has passed at the age of 69.
Arase, reportedly died at Ceda Crest Hospital, Abuja. His death has thrown the NPF, the Nigerian Legal system and Edo State into deep mourning.
Arase, who was Nigeria’s 18th IGP, served between April 2015 and June 2016 before retiring from active service.
He later emerged as Chairman of the Police Service Commission in January 2023 following his appointment by then-President Muhammadu Buhari. However, he was removed from the position in June 2024 by President Bola Tinubu.
Born on June 21, 1956, in Owan West Local Government Area of Edo State, Arase studied Political Science at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, graduating in 1980.
He enlisted in the Nigeria Police Force on December 1, 1981, later bagged a Law degree from the University of Benin and a Master’s degree from the University of Lagos. He also has a PhD, and was a respected author.
During his career, he held several key positions, including Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State and Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of intelligence.
He also served in Namibia as part of a United Nations peacekeeping mission and was a Fellow of the Nigerian Defence Academy.
Arase retired from the Police on June 21, 2016, after reaching the mandatory retirement age.
*Credit: The Source Magazine
