Story by Iyiola Ayomide
Nigeria has lost one of its foremost police chiefs, former Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Solomon Arase, who reportedly died in the early hours of today at Cedarcrest Hospital in Abuja.
Investigations by Crimewatchnewspaper revealed that Arase was flown into Nigeria in a coma from Morocco on Friday, after he allegedly suffered food poisoning at a wedding ceremony. Sources disclosed that there was hope of recovery yesterday when he briefly regained consciousness, but he later relapsed and passed away this morning.
Arase, who served as Nigeria’s 18th Inspector-General of Police, was later appointed Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC). Before his appointment as IGP, he led the Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Bureau, the Nigeria Police Force’s elite intelligence unit.
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 joined the Nigeria Police Force on December 1, 1981, later bagging a Law degree from the University of Benin and a Master’s degree from the University of Lagos.
During a distinguished career, he held several strategic positions, including Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State and Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of intelligence. He also represented Nigeria in Namibia during a United Nations peacekeeping mission and was a Fellow of the Nigerian Defence Academy.
Arase retired from the Police on June 21, 2016, after attaining the statutory retirement age. In January 2023, he was appointed Chairman of the Police Service Commission by the late President Muhammadu Buhari, before being removed from the role in June 2024 by President Bola Tinubu.
His passing marks the end of a remarkable era in policing and public service in Nigeria.