Solomon Arase


Solomon Ehigiator Arase is a retired Nigerian police officer who served as the 18th Inspector-General of Nigerian Police. He was appointed IGP in 2015 by President Goodluck Jonathan after Suleiman Abba was sacked. Before his appointment as IGP, Arase was head of the topmost intelligence gathering unit of the Nigerian police, the Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Bureau.

Life and career

Arase was born on June 21, 1956 in Oredo, Edo state in Southern Nigeria. He attended Ahmadu Bello University for his undergraduate studies and graduated with Political Science degree in 1980. He was recruited into the Nigerian Police a year after on December 1, 1981. He also obtained another bachelor's degree in Law from University of Benin as well as Masters from University of Lagos.
While in Police service, Arase served in various capacities including being Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State as well as serving intelligence gathering unit as Assistant Inspector General. He is a Fellow of the Nigerian Defence Academy and had served in Namibia during the United Nations peacekeeping operation.
Arase retired from the force on June 21, 2016. On June 21, 2016, President Muhammadu Buhari appointed Ibrahim Kpotum Idris as Acting Inspector General of the Nigeria Police Force. After his retirement from Police service, Arase was appointed Chairman of a Task Force responsible for the implementation of a state Anti-Community Development Association Law in Edo State.