Dr. Solomon Ehigiator Arase CFR: The Cerebral Scholar in Police Uniform

BY Prof Mike Ozekhome SAN

In the quiet dawn of August 31, 2025, Nigeria lost a towering uniformed figure whose life was a testament to national service, unwavering dedication to duty, intellectual sagacity and an unyielding commitment to justice. Dr. Solomon Ehigiator Arase, CFR, the 18th Inspector-General of Police and former Chairman of the Nigeria Police Service Commission (PSC), was snatched by the cold hands of death at 69 after a brief illness at Cedarcrest Hospital in Abuja. His departure leaves a gaping void in the hearts of his family, colleagues, the security forces, and a nation he so diligently served with unparalleled patriotism.

Yet, in this moment of grieving and sorrowing, we must celebrate a legacy that continues to illuminate the path towards a safer, fairer and a more humane and just Nigeria. Born on June 21,1956, an Ora mother and Benin father, in Owan West Local Government Area, Edo State, Solomon Arase rose from humble beginnings, nurtured in a home that prized education and discipline very highly. His journey was one of relentless pursuit of knowledge and excellence, forged in the fires of academic rigor and practical wisdom. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in political science from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, in 1980, immersing himself in intellectual traditions that were later to shape his vision of law enforcement as a tool for social justice and equity. This foundation propelled him to further academic heights: a Bachelors degree in law from the University of Benin and a Masters degree in law (specializing in corporate management and finance) from the University of Lagos. He did not stop after these three degrees. He went on to obtain a Masters in Strategic Studies, and a Ph.D. doctorate degree in Public Law. As a Fellow of the Nigerian Defence College (fdc) and a member of prestigious bodies such as the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), the International Bar Association (IBA), the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), and the Body of Benchers, Arase embodied a rare fusion of scholarly depth and operational prowess. His intellectual contributions extended beyond the classroom, as he authored influential books on policing, police reform, accountability and democratic security management that enriched national and global discourse.

Joining the Nigeria Police Force on December 1,1981, as a Cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), Arase’s career spanned over three decades of exemplary service across operations, investigations, administration, and intelligence. He served as Principal Staff Officer to three successive Inspectors-General of Police between 2002 and 2008, honing his strategic acumen at the highest levels. As Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State, Assistant Inspector-General in charge of intelligence, and head of the Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Bureau (CIIB) , he demonstrated tactical brilliance tempered with empathy. His international engagement with the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Namibia brought a global perspectives, enriching Nigeria’s security framework with lessons in conflict management and resolution. Appointed the 18th Inspector-General of Police in April, 2015, by then President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, Arase’s brief tenure until June 21, 2016, was transformative. A reformer extraordinaire, he introduced bold initiatives that reshaped and repositioned the Nigeria Police Force. He established the Intelligence Response Team (IRT), an elite unit that tackled high-profile crimes with precision, and the Complaint Response Unit (CRU), a pioneering mechanism to address public grievances against police misconduct, including abuse, corruption, and extortion. These were not mere administrative changes but bold steps toward accountability and service-oriented policing. Arase championed community policing to foster collaboration with local communities, enhanced forensic investigation capabilities, introduced Safer Highway Patrols to bolster road safety, and prohibited intrusive searches of citizens’ phones to uphold civil liberties.

As a human rights -compliant lawyer in police uniform, Arase insisted on the police using intelligence gathering mechanisms to first investigate crimes before arresting and detaining citizens. This contrasted sharply with the earlier mantra of first detaining citizens before commencing investigations. Even in crises situation such as the Agatu Massacre in Benue state to which he was deployed to assess damages, his approach remained rooted in strict professionalism and compassion. His receipt of the National Police Medal (NPM) and the highly priced national honour of Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR) underscored the respect he commanded for these reforms and more.

Retirement did not dim Arase’s influence; it rather amplified it. Appointed Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC) in January 2023, by then President Muhammadu Buhari, he served until June 2024, promoting merit-based recruitment, transparency and holistic depoliticization of police appointments—often against entrenched interests whose toes were sorely bruised in the process. In just two months, he fostered harmonious relations between the PSC and the Nigeria Police Force, cleared pending disciplinary matters to unblock career progressions, and oversaw fair promotion interviews while warning against corruption. Post-retirement, Arase, though retired, was not tired. He lunched into legal practice, security consultancy for the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and the European Centre for Electoral Support. He also contributed to international efforts such as the UN Committee on the Prevention of Torture in Geneva. He chaired a task force to revise the anti-community development association laws in Edo State and served as National Legal Adviser to the Alumni Association of the National Defence College (AANDEC). His work with the Human Rights Centre at the University of Oslo and presidential committees on police reform cemented his status as a global advocate for democratic security.

Beyond his professional achievements, Arase’s heart beat for the marginalized. Through the Solomon Ehigiator Arase Foundation (SEAF), he invested in Nigeria’s future by awarding scholarships to 29 outstanding students in 2025 alone, focusing on fields such as medicine, engineering, and criminology, with special emphasis on children of fallen police officers and youth from underserved communities. This was not mere philanthropy but a profound act of legacy-building, reflecting his deep belief that true security begins with education and empowerment. In a nation grappling with inequality, SEAF stood as a beacon of hope, nurturing the next generation of leaders to carry forward his values of integrity, service, and excellence. Dr. Solomon Ehigiator Arase was more than a police officer; he was a patriot, scholar, transformer, and healer of societal wounds. His reforms built bridges of understanding between authority and trust. His policies safeguarded human dignity, while his foundation whispered assurance that every citizen’s dream matters. As President Bola Tinubu aptly noted in his tribute, Nigeria will miss his “experience and contributions,” a sentiment shared and echoed across divides by governors, statesmen and women, IGP Kayode Egbetokun and countless others.

To his beloved family—his wife, children, including Solomon Arase Jr (my mentee) and loved ones—I extend my deepest condolences. I say to you: your loss is our collective grief; yet his spirit endures in the many lives he touched. Today, we do not merely mourn a man who held office; we honour a visionary whose life was a tapestry of integrity, deep intellect and committed service to his fatherland. Dr. Arase taught us that true leadership is measured not by rank, epaulets and decorations, but by the lives touched and uplifted, the systems reformed and the hope kindled. His legacy blooms in the CRU that gave voice to the voiceless; the scholarships that lifted dreams from obscurity; and the reforms that mended fractured trust and dashed hopes. May Dr. Solomon Ehigiator Arase rest in perfect peace, and may his life inspire us to build the just, equitable society he envisioned and worked so hard to realise.

Adieu, Ehigiator. Goodbye Solomon, the man who possessed Solomonic wisdom in tons. Fareware Arase. I can authoritatively accord you with the reasonating words of Julius Caesar after his swift victory against Asia Minor in 47 BC, vini vidi vici ( you came, you saw, you conquered). Yes, you came, you served and you illuminated dark crevices for all to follow.