Solomon Arase (21 June 1956 – 31 August 2025) was a Nigerian police officer, lawyer and public administrator who served as the country’s 18th indigenous Inspector-General of Police from April 2015 to June 2016. His career spanned more than three decades and included major responsibilities in criminal intelligence, police investigations and national security administration.
Born Solomon Ehigiator Arase, he joined the Nigeria Police Force in December 1981 and rose through its ranks to become one of the country’s senior police officers. Before his appointment as Inspector-General, he had served as Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State, headed the Force Intelligence Bureau and led the Force Criminal Intelligence and Investigations Department.
After retiring in 2016, Arase remained involved in legal practice, security consultancy and public affairs. In 2023, he returned to government as Chairman of the Police Service Commission, the federal institution responsible for significant aspects of police personnel administration and oversight.
His career is particularly relevant to Nigerian history because it connected three areas of law enforcement: intelligence gathering, operational police leadership and institutional accountability.
Solomon Arase’s Early Life and Education
Solomon Ehigiator Arase was born on 21 June 1956 and was of Edo State origin. However, published accounts differ concerning his precise birthplace.
A curriculum vitae circulated following his appointment as Acting Inspector-General in April 2015 identified Sapele, in present-day Delta State, as his birthplace and Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State as his place of origin.
By contrast, the Nigeria Police Force’s memorial statement following his death in August 2025 identified Owan West Local Government Area of Edo State as his birthplace.
The difference between these records remains unresolved. What is established is that Arase had strong family and personal connections to Edo State.
His Academic and Professional Qualifications
Arase studied Political Science at Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria, graduating in 1980.
He subsequently studied law at the University of Benin, earning a Bachelor of Laws degree in 1998, according to his published 2015 curriculum vitae. He attended the Nigerian Law School and obtained his Barrister-at-Law qualification in 2001.
His professional records also identify postgraduate studies in law and strategic studies.
The 2015 curriculum vitae lists a Master of Laws degree in Corporate Management and Finance Law from Lagos State University in 2004. A later Nigeria Police Force memorial statement, however, names the University of Lagos as the institution that awarded his master’s degree in law.
Because these records differ, the institution that awarded his LL.M. should be treated with caution until confirmed by university records.
Arase also obtained a Master of Strategic Studies from the University of Ibadan in 2009 and became a Fellow of the National Defence College. Later biographical accounts credit him with a doctorate in Public Law from Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma.
His education in political science, law and strategic studies complemented a police career that increasingly involved intelligence analysis, investigations and senior administration.
Joining the Nigeria Police Force in 1981
Solomon Arase enlisted in the Nigeria Police Force on 1 December 1981.
Nigeria’s police institution was responsible for maintaining public order, investigating crimes and enforcing the law across a country experiencing substantial political and social change.
Arase joined during the civilian administration of President Shehu Shagari. Over the following decades, his career continued through military governments and the return to democratic rule in 1999.
As he advanced through the force, his responsibilities expanded from conventional police work to investigations, intelligence and high-level administration.
An important part of his professional development was service as Principal Staff Officer to three Inspectors-General of Police between 2002 and 2008.
The position provided exposure to national police management, coordination between departments and the administrative responsibilities of the Inspector-General’s office.
He also participated in a United Nations peacekeeping mission in Namibia, gaining international experience in security operations.
These assignments helped establish the background from which he would eventually reach the highest position in the Nigeria Police Force.
Solomon Arase’s Career in Intelligence and Criminal Investigation
Before becoming Inspector-General, Arase occupied several senior positions that placed intelligence and criminal investigation at the centre of his professional career.
He served as Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State, where kidnapping, armed robbery and other organised crimes were among the security challenges confronting law enforcement.
He later became Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of the Force Intelligence Bureau.
The bureau was responsible for intelligence-related functions intended to support criminal investigations and police operations.
Arase subsequently rose to Deputy Inspector-General of Police and headed the Force Criminal Intelligence and Investigations Department.
This was his position immediately before his appointment as Acting Inspector-General in April 2015.
Why His Intelligence Background Mattered
Intelligence gathering and criminal investigation are connected but different aspects of policing.
Intelligence work involves collecting, analysing and interpreting information that may help security agencies identify threats, understand criminal networks and plan operations.
Criminal investigation focuses on establishing the circumstances surrounding suspected offences, collecting evidence, identifying suspects and supporting lawful prosecution.
Both require reliable information, professional judgement and respect for legal procedures.
Arase’s experience in these departments was significant because the Inspector-General must oversee more than ordinary police patrols. The position also involves coordinating investigations, allocating personnel and resources, and setting national policing priorities.
His intelligence background became one of the defining features of his approach to police leadership.
How Solomon Arase Became Nigeria’s 18th Inspector-General of Police
On 21 April 2015, President Goodluck Jonathan relieved Inspector-General Suleiman Abba of his appointment and named Solomon Arase as Acting Inspector-General of Police.
Arase was a Deputy Inspector-General at the time.
The appointment occurred during a politically significant transition. Jonathan had lost the March 2015 presidential election to Muhammadu Buhari, who was preparing to assume office on 29 May.
Arase’s appointment was therefore made by the outgoing president, although he subsequently served under Buhari’s administration.
On 12 May 2015, the Nigeria Police Council confirmed Arase as substantive Inspector-General of Police.
He became the 18th indigenous officer to occupy the position.
The Challenges Facing Nigeria’s New Police Chief
Arase assumed leadership at a time when Nigeria faced serious security concerns.
The Boko Haram insurgency continued to affect the northeastern states, while kidnapping, armed robbery, communal violence and organised criminal activity presented challenges in other parts of the country.
Public confidence in law enforcement was also affected by longstanding complaints about police misconduct, corruption, unlawful detention and the use of force.
These problems extended beyond the responsibility of any single Inspector-General. Nevertheless, the leadership of the Nigeria Police Force had an important role in determining operational priorities and enforcing professional standards.
Arase’s administration placed particular emphasis on intelligence-led policing, officer welfare and public accountability.
Major Police Reforms Under Solomon Arase
Although Solomon Arase served as Inspector-General for approximately fourteen months, several initiatives became associated with his administration.
These included the establishment of a public complaints mechanism, renewed attention to police roadblocks, officer welfare and the role of intelligence in policing.
Establishment of the Complaint Response Unit in 2015
One of the best-documented initiatives of Arase’s tenure was the establishment of the Nigeria Police Force Complaint Response Unit, commonly known as the CRU.
The unit was formally launched on 13 November 2015.
It was designed to provide members of the public with channels for reporting alleged misconduct by police officers.
The complaints mechanism used communication technologies to receive information from citizens and facilitate responses from the police.
Its establishment was significant because complaints about police conduct had long raised questions about how citizens could seek accountability from an institution entrusted with substantial legal powers.
The unit represented an attempt to create a more accessible administrative process for reporting misconduct.
What Did the Complaint Response Unit Achieve?
Contemporary reports provide some evidence of the CRU’s early activities.
In April 2016, the unit’s officer in charge, Abayomi Shogunle, reported that twenty police officers had been sanctioned following complaints received between November 2015 and March 2016.
He also reported that the unit received and processed 1,054 complaints during the first quarter of 2016.
Of those complaints, officials said 899 had been resolved, while others remained pending or had been classified as false.
These figures demonstrate that the unit was receiving complaints and carrying out administrative functions during Arase’s tenure.
However, the figures alone do not establish that police misconduct declined nationwide or that complainants consistently received satisfactory outcomes.
A complete assessment would require independent information about disciplinary proceedings, the quality of investigations and the experiences of people who used the complaints system.
Police Roadblocks and Highway Patrols
Arase also reaffirmed restrictions on unauthorised police roadblocks.
Police roadblocks had long attracted public criticism because of allegations of extortion and other forms of misconduct.
The ban on roadblocks predated his administration. Arase’s contribution was to emphasise enforcement of the existing restriction and promote alternative highway patrol arrangements.
In May 2015, he publicly discussed measures intended to ensure compliance, including the responsibilities of police commanders in areas where unauthorised roadblocks continued.
The initiative reflected an attempt to address misconduct while maintaining police visibility on major roads.
Police Welfare and Professional Conduct
Officer welfare was another priority publicly identified by Arase.
Following his confirmation as Inspector-General in May 2015, he emphasised the importance of improving the working conditions and motivation of police personnel.
His administration associated welfare with professional performance, arguing that officers required adequate institutional support to carry out their responsibilities effectively.
Police personnel promotions, educational assistance and professional development were among the issues discussed during his tenure.
The emphasis on welfare did not remove the need for accountability. Rather, it formed part of an approach that linked improved working conditions with expectations of professional behaviour.
Retirement from the Nigeria Police Force in June 2016
Solomon Arase retired from active police service on 21 June 2016, his 60th birthday.
He had served in the Nigeria Police Force for more than 34 years.
On 22 June 2016, he delivered his formal valedictory address at the Force Headquarters in Abuja.
During the handover ceremony, Arase transferred leadership to Acting Inspector-General Ibrahim Kpotun Idris, who became Nigeria’s 19th indigenous Inspector-General of Police.
The address provided an opportunity for Arase to review the priorities of his administration and formally conclude his career as a serving police officer.
His retirement marked the end of a professional journey that had begun in December 1981.
However, his involvement in security administration and public affairs continued.
Solomon Arase’s Appointment as Police Service Commission Chairman
On 24 January 2023, President Muhammadu Buhari appointed Solomon Arase as Chairman of the Police Service Commission.
Following the necessary confirmation process, Buhari formally swore him into office on 29 March 2023.
The appointment returned Arase to a senior position in Nigeria’s policing system, but his new responsibilities were fundamentally different from those of Inspector-General.
What Is the Police Service Commission?
The Police Service Commission is a federal institution with responsibilities relating to the appointment, promotion, dismissal and disciplinary control of police personnel, excluding the Inspector-General of Police.
The commission’s powers are established under Nigeria’s constitutional and statutory framework.
While the Inspector-General provides operational leadership within the Nigeria Police Force, the commission exercises separate personnel-administration and oversight powers.
This distinction became especially important during Arase’s chairmanship.
Having previously led the police organisation, he now headed an institution responsible for aspects of its personnel management and accountability.
Resolving Institutional Disputes Between the PSC and Police
Arase assumed office amid disagreements between the Police Service Commission and the Nigeria Police Force over their respective powers.
One major dispute concerned authority over the recruitment of police constables.
In April 2023, Arase publicly discussed the need to improve relations between the two institutions and reduce conflicts concerning their responsibilities.
On 11 July 2023, the Supreme Court delivered a judgment concerning recruitment authority.
The Police Service Commission subsequently stated that the judgment confirmed its statutory responsibility for recruiting police constables.
Arase welcomed the ruling as an opportunity for the commission and the Nigeria Police Force to cooperate more effectively.
Nevertheless, legal clarification did not eliminate every administrative disagreement.
In May 2024, the commission again publicly addressed disputes and misinformation concerning the recruitment process.
These developments demonstrated that relations between institutions depend not only on legal authority but also on cooperation, procedural clarity and the practical implementation of decisions.
Institutional Changes During Arase’s PSC Chairmanship
During Arase’s tenure, the Police Service Commission reported several initiatives intended to strengthen its administrative functions.
One was the establishment of a Compliance Monitoring Unit.
The unit was intended to monitor the effectiveness and responsiveness of the Nigeria Police Force’s complaints mechanism.
This responsibility was distinct from the police’s own Complaint Response Unit, which had been introduced during Arase’s earlier tenure as Inspector-General.
The distinction mattered because it placed complaint handling and the monitoring of complaint handling within different institutional structures.
In September 2023, Arase also sought international support for specialised training and equipment to strengthen the commission’s monitoring activities.
The commission additionally undertook administrative work relating to police recruitment and personnel management.
Its corporate headquarters was relocated to Jabi, Abuja, during Arase’s chairmanship, an achievement subsequently highlighted in the commission’s official tribute following his death.
From Police Commander to Institutional Negotiator
Arase publicly acknowledged the difference between his former position and his responsibilities at the Police Service Commission.
During a September 2023 meeting with a civil society delegation, he explained that his previous role as Inspector-General involved issuing commands within the police hierarchy.
As commission chairman, however, his responsibilities increasingly involved negotiation, mediation and resolving disagreements between institutions.
His observation illustrated a central feature of public administration: operational leadership and civilian institutional oversight require different methods of exercising authority.
Why Solomon Arase Left the Police Service Commission in 2024
Arase’s chairmanship ended in June 2024.
On 10 June 2024, President Bola Tinubu announced the appointment of retired Deputy Inspector-General Hashimu Argungu as the new Chairman of the Police Service Commission, subject to Senate confirmation.
The announcement brought Arase’s period of leadership at the commission to a close.
His departure occurred against the background of continued administrative disagreements involving police recruitment and the relationship between the commission and the Nigeria Police Force.
However, the existence of those disputes does not independently establish the president’s reasons for replacing him.
Any claim concerning private political motives or an undisclosed explanation for the decision would require separate, reliable evidence.
Educational Support and the Solomon Ehigiator Arase Foundation
Arase’s activities also extended beyond formal police administration.
During his tenure as Inspector-General, he supported the establishment of a Nigeria Police Force scholarship initiative for the children of serving and deceased police personnel.
The Nigeria Police Force Scholarship Foundation was registered in October 2015.
Its stated objectives included reducing the financial burden of education for police families and encouraging academic achievement.
Following his retirement, Arase was also associated with the Solomon Ehigiator Arase Foundation, which provided educational assistance to students.
In June 2023, the foundation awarded scholarships to twenty-four students, including children of deceased police officers and students from communities in Edo State.
The educational activities reflected a continuing interest in providing opportunities for students whose circumstances might otherwise limit their access to further education.
These initiatives formed another part of his public activities beyond national policing and administration.
Death of Solomon Arase on 31 August 2025
Solomon Ehigiator Arase died on Sunday, 31 August 2025, at Cedarcrest Hospital in Abuja.
He was 69 years old.
His family announced his death, and the Nigeria Police Force subsequently confirmed the news.
The announcement prompted condolences from government officials, police leadership, former colleagues and public institutions.
The Police Service Commission also paid tribute to its former chairman, acknowledging his contributions to its administration and institutional development.
In September 2025, the commission announced that it had visited Arase’s family and opened a condolence register at its corporate headquarters in Jabi, Abuja.
His death marked the end of a career that had extended across more than four decades of police service, legal and security work, and public administration.
Solomon Arase’s Legacy in Nigerian Police History
Solomon Arase occupies a distinctive position in the history of the Nigeria Police Force because he served both as its Inspector-General and, years later, as Chairman of the Police Service Commission.
His career reflected the relationship between operational policing and institutional oversight.
As an intelligence and investigations officer, he worked within departments responsible for collecting information and investigating crime.
As Inspector-General, he exercised national leadership over the police organisation and introduced initiatives associated with public complaints, professional standards and personnel welfare.
As Chairman of the Police Service Commission, he became involved in appointments, disciplinary oversight and the administrative relationship between the commission and the police.
His record also illustrates the challenges of evaluating institutional reform.
Introducing a complaint mechanism, issuing operational directives or establishing a monitoring unit can be documented through official records. Determining whether those measures permanently improved policing requires further evidence of implementation and outcomes.
Arase’s historical significance therefore rests not on a claim that he resolved every problem facing Nigerian policing, but on the documented offices he held, the policies associated with his leadership and his participation in debates over law enforcement accountability.
His career remains relevant to the broader study of police reform, institutional responsibility and public administration in Nigeria.
Conclusion
Solomon Ehigiator Arase’s life brought together different generations and dimensions of Nigerian policing.
Beginning his career in 1981, he progressed through criminal investigation, intelligence and senior police administration before becoming the country’s 18th indigenous Inspector-General in April 2015.
His subsequent appointment as Chairman of the Police Service Commission demonstrated how his experience extended beyond operational command to institutional oversight.
The records of his career offer important material for understanding Nigeria’s efforts to improve police professionalism, accountability and public confidence in law enforcement.
Arase died in August 2025, but his appointments, administrative initiatives and involvement in police reform remain part of the documented history of Nigeria’s security institutions.
References
Nigeria Police Force. Valedictory Remarks by IGP Solomon E. Arase at the Formal Handing Over Ceremony, 22 June 2016. Official record of his retirement and succession.
TheWill. A–Z: Nigeria’s Acting Police IGP, Solomon Arase, 21 April 2015. Published curriculum vitae providing his career and educational details.
Channels Television. Jonathan Removes Suleiman Abba, Appoints Solomon Arase, 21 April 2015. Contemporary record of his appointment.
Channels Television. Police Council Confirms Arase as IGP, 12 May 2015. Confirmation and stated priorities.
Police Service Commission. Supreme Court Judgment on Police Constable Recruitment, 27 August 2023. Official account of the July 2023 judgment.
Police Service Commission. As IGP I Give Orders, Now at PSC I Negotiate, 22 September 2023. Arase’s reflections on institutional leadership.
State House, Abuja. President Tinubu Appoints New Leadership for the Police Service Commission, 10 June 2024. Official announcement of new commission leadership.
Police Service Commission. PSC Visits Arase Family, 4 September 2025. Institutional tribute following his death.
Nigeria Police Force, Directorate of Police Education. NPF Scholarship Foundation. Official record of the police scholarship initiative established under his leadership.
TheCable. Former IGP Solomon Arase Dies, 31 August 2025. Contemporary reporting of his death and career.
