The death of Solomon Ehigiator Arase, former Inspector General of Police, is indeed a great loss to the country. His contributions to crime fighting didn’t go unnoticed during an illustrious career that saw him rise to the pinnacle as the country’s number one cop. As Inspector General of Police (IGP), his tenure witnessed a revamped Nigeria Police Force, earning him a reputation as a detective par excellence and a crime fighter.
Arase was not just a conventional policeman; he was also a scholar and writer with a doctorate in law from the Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, in Edo State. He also earned graduate and postgraduate degrees in political science, corporate management, finance law and strategic studies, therefore cementing his place as one of the few inspectors general of police with such scholarly inclination in the annals of the Nigerian Police Force. He led the police with foresight, as evident in some notable reforms witnessed during his tenure.
He was a human rights advocate. It was he who mandated that the police cannot search the phones of citizens without proper authorisation in line with Section 37 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended, that guarantees “The privacy of citizens, their homes, correspondence, telephone conversations and telegraphic communications. The human rights community in Nigeria applauded this move. The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) described him as “someone whose dedication to justice, dignity, and service inspired a new generation of human rights defenders and security professionals.”
As a newspaper, we recognise his invaluable contributions to national development as a former inspector general of police and chairman of the Police Service Commission. For example, he established the Police Complaint Response Unit (CRU), a critical mechanism to address public grievances and enhance police accountability. He also enforced intelligence-led policing, which emphasised investigation before arrest, in line with the constitutional presumption of innocence.
He continued in the same fashion as the chairman of the Police Service Commission, where he championed transparency and merit-based recruitment into the Nigerian Police Force to address the lopsidedness in recruitment into the police. This indicated his scholarly disposition towards improving the lot of the Nigerian Police Force. This much we identify with on the need for a professional police force that conforms with international best practices in policing.
His death is a great loss to the country and the media community. His relationship with the media was robust and cordial, and, on several occasions, he described the media as worthy partners in entrenching accountability and nation-building. In its tribute, the Crime Reporters Association of Nigeria (CRAN) described him as “a fine officer, a visionary reformer, and above all, a mentor and friend to journalists, particularly those covering the crime and security beat.”
The Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC) also described him as “an exceptional and exemplary cop, a reformer, and a rare breed of officer who believed that policing should be about service, trust, and legitimacy, not intimidation.”
As a newspaper, we join millions of Nigerians in mourning the passing of a brilliant cop whose tenures as inspector general of Police and chairman of the police service commission were remarkable in the annals of the institutions. He brought to bear his intellect and international exposure in the discharge of his duties in service to the nation. His presence was also felt in communities through the Mercy Igbe Arase Foundation and the Solomon Ehigiator Arase Foundation, which were established to foster educational excellence and community development.
The foundations have impacted lives positively. Over 50 indigent students from several communities in Edo state graduated with degrees from tertiary institutions in law, medicine and other notable disciplines. Notable among the beneficiaries is the 15-year-old daughter of one of his domestic workers from Katsina state, whose parents were planning to return her to Katsina state to get married. She was enrolled in a boarding school, passed her exams with flying colours, and was admitted to study at the Ambrose Alli University in Edo State, where she graduated with a degree in Economics. The foundations scholarship scheme was also extended to children of deceased police officers of the Inspectorate cadre and other ranks who died in the line of duty, and are indigenes of the seven local government areas of Edo South Senatorial District.
This newspaper identifies with the life and times of Solomon Ehigiator Arase (1956-2025). He lived an exemplary life as a cop and as a private citizen. His pet project impacted the lives of indigent people extensively in his community. The laudable reforms he introduced as the 18th Inspector General of Police remain reference points in professionalising the Nigerian Police Force. We join millions of Nigerians in bidding farewell to a consummate crimebuster.
