By Bonaventure Melah
Solomon Ehigiator Arase, PhD, was born on June 21, 1956. He is a retired Nigerian police officer who served as the 18th Inspector-General of Nigerian Police (IGP).
Dr. Arase is currently the Chairman of the Nigeria Police Service Commission.
He was appointed Chairman in January 2023 by President Muhammadu Buhari and was inaugurated on Wednesday, March 29, 2023.
Before his appointment as IGP, Arase was head of the topmost intelligence gathering unit of the Nigerian police, the Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Bureau. He is said to have an unblemished service record and is one of the most educated serving and retired Police officers in Nigeria.
Arase was born on June 21, 1956 in Owan West Local Government , 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 and later 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.
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.
Arase dedicated his post-retirement undertakings to legal practice, Security Consultancy with organizations such as the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), the European Centre for Electoral Support, the Human Rights Centre at the University of Oslo, Public Speaking, Research and other Academic engagements.
Arase who has delivered several academic and professional papers at various national and international summits and seminars, a member of the Committee on Prevention of Torture, Geneva Switzerland currently developing a universal protocol on Investigative Techniques.
On January 24, 2023 Arase was appointed Chairman of the Nigeria Police Service Commission by President Muhammadu Buhari.
In October 2022, a Nigerian national honour of Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR) was conferred on him by President Muhammadu Buhari.