Iliyasu Abdullahi Bah
Nigeria has lost a distinguished figure in its law enforcement community with the passing of former Inspector General of Police IGP, Dr. Solomon Arase (retd).
The revered former police chief died at Cedarcrest Hospital in Abuja. At the time of this report, an official statement confirming the tragic development is still awaited from his family or the Nigeria Police Force.
Dr. Arase, who served as the 18th Inspector General of the Nigeria Police Force, was a veteran officer with an illustrious career spanning over three decades. Born on June 21, 1956, in Owan West Local Government Area of Edo State, he embarked on his path of service by joining the Nigeria Police Force on December 1, 1981.
His academic prowess matched his professional dedication. He was an alumnus of Ahmadu Bello University, where he graduated with a degree in Political Science in 1980. He furthered his education by obtaining a Law degree from the University of Benin and a Masters degree from the University of Lagos.
His career was marked by a series of strategic appointments that highlighted his expertise, particularly in intelligence. Before his ascension to the role of IGP in 2015, he served as the Head of the Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Bureau CIIB, the police force’s premier intelligence unit. He also held the positions of Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State and Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Intelligence.
His service extended beyond Nigeria borders, having contributed to international peace and security as part of a United Nations peacekeeping mission in Namibia. He was also a Fellow of the Nigerian Defence Academy.
Arase retired from the Force upon reaching the mandatory retirement age on June 21, 2016. His legacy of service continued as he was appointed Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC) in January 2023 by former President Muhammadu Buhari. He held this role until June 2024, when he was removed from office by President Bola Tinubu.
The nation awaits official tributes and details of his funeral arrangements as it mourns the loss of a dedicated officer and public servant.