Nigeria has been thrown into mourning following the death of former Inspector-General of Police, Dr. Solomon Ehigiator Arase. The respected security chief passed away on Sunday morning, August 31, 2025, at Cedarcrest Hospital in Abuja after a brief illness. He was aged 69.
Arase’s death was confirmed by his family and later announced by the Nigeria Police Force, which described his passing as a huge loss to the country’s security community. Born in Edo State in 1956, Arase enjoyed a distinguished career in law enforcement, serving in various capacities before becoming the 18th indigenous Inspector-General of Police in April 2015. He led the force until his retirement in June 2016.
During his time in service, Arase was widely celebrated for introducing key reforms. He established the Complaints Response Unit to boost police accountability, founded the Intelligence Response Team to tackle high-profile crimes, and introduced citizen-friendly measures such as prohibiting officers from searching mobile phones without cause. Beyond policing, he also founded a scholarship scheme to support children of fallen officers and underprivileged students.
After leaving the office of IGP, Arase continued to contribute to national security, serving as Chairman of the Police Service Commission from 2023 until 2024. His death has drawn tributes from across the country. President Bola Tinubu, state governors, and past police chiefs described him as a reformer whose legacy of professionalism and service will not be forgotten.
The Nigeria Police Force, led by the current IGP Kayode Egbetokun, has paid condolences to the Arase family, emphasizing that the late officer’s dedication to justice, accountability, and human rights left an enduring mark on the nation’s policing system.
