Nigeria has been thrown into mourning following reports that former Inspector-General of Police, Solomon Arase, has passed away.
According to SaharaReporters, Arase d!ed at Cedarcrest Hospital in Abuja, though as of press time, neither his family nor the Nigeria Police Force has issued an official statement to confirm the development.
Arase, who served as Nigeria’s 18th Inspector-General of Police, was appointed in April 2015 by former President Goodluck Jonathan. Even after retiring from active service in 2016, he continued to contribute to national development. In January 2023, he was appointed Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC) under former President Muhammadu Buhari, a position he held until June 2024 when President Bola Tinubu relieved him of the role.
A highly respected intelligence officer, Arase once led the Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Bureau, the police force’s top intelligence arm. He also served as Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State and later as Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of intelligence. Beyond Nigeria, he represented the country in Namibia during a United Nations peacekeeping mission.
His passing marks the end of an era for the Nigerian Police Force, with many already describing him as one of the most refined and professional officers of his time.
