JUST IN: Former IG of Police Reportedly Dead at Abuja Hospital

Former Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Solomon Arase has reportedly died at Cedarcrest Hospital in Abuja.

As of press time, neither his family nor the Nigeria Police Force has released an official statement confirming the development.

Arase, who served as Nigeria’s 18th Inspector-General of Police, was later appointed Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC). Before rising to the top of the Force, he led the Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Bureau, the police’s foremost intelligence unit.

Born on June 21, 1956, in Owan West Local Government Area of Edo State, Arase studied Political Science at Ahmadu Bello University, graduating in 1980, before joining the Nigeria Police Force on December 1, 1981. He later earned a Law degree from the University of Benin and a Master’s degree from the University of Lagos.

Throughout his distinguished career, he served in 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 under a United Nations peacekeeping mission and was a Fellow of the Nigerian Defence Academy.

Arase retired from the Force on June 21, 2016, upon reaching the statutory retirement age. In January 2023, he was appointed Chairman of the Police Service Commission by then-President Muhammadu Buhari, a position he held until June 2024 when President Bola Tinubu relieved him of the role.

This is a developing story.