Nigeria President, Others Mourn Ex Police Boss Solomon Ehigiator Arase
https://osazuwaakonedo.news/nigeria-president-others-mourn-ex-police-boss-solomon-ehigiator-arase/01/09/2025/
#Nigeria Police Force #Owan #Arase #Igp #Police ©September 1st, 2025 ®September 1, 2025 5:02 pm Solomon Ehigiator Arase may be the true definition of the popular saying that “Police Is Your Friend” if only you are a good character police officer, the former Inspector General of Police, Solomon Ehigiator Arase apparently validated the aforesaid statement to be true when his death was announced on Sunday August 31st 2025, the death sparked uncommon good words of condolences from many Nigerians, unlike before, millions of Nigerians make negative comments against dead top government officials, but in the case of Arase, millions of Nigerians took to their social media pages and comment sections to say good things about the IGP that policed the Nigeria states between April 2015 and June 2016, even human rights activists that always talk negative about the Nigeria Police Force like Barrister Adeyanju Deji, was among the earliest mourners on Sunday to be at the residence of the late IGP to pay a condolence visit with a tribute, saying; “May the soul of former IGP Solomon Arase rest in peace, In my about 20 years of knowing him, he helped us get freedom for many student union leaders and comrades who were unlawfully detained, As IGP and after his retirement, we remained close and continued to seek his help whenever citizens’ rights were abused”, we also observed that many serving and retired police officers like DCP Olumuyiwa Adejobi had took to their personal social media accounts to tell the world how good Solomon Ehigiator Arase was, during and after service, this, a Nigerian citizen by name Oluwaseun Odutayo took to the Nigeria Police Force Facebook comment section and said; “Hope the current IGP and all other AIGPs and DIGPs and all Nigeria Police Force officers are online and reading comments?, Hopefully we would get something like this to be written for them too when their own time comes”. #OsazuwaAkonedo
https://osazuwaakonedo.news/nigeria-president-others-mourn-ex-police-boss-solomon-ehigiator-arase/01/09/2025/
#Nigeria Police Force #Owan #Arase #Igp #Police ©September 1st, 2025 ®September 1, 2025 5:02 pm Solomon Ehigiator Arase may be the true definition of the popular saying that “Police Is Your Friend” if only you are a good character police officer, the former Inspector General of Police, Solomon Ehigiator Arase apparently validated the aforesaid statement to be true when his death was announced on Sunday August 31st 2025, the death sparked uncommon good words of condolences from many Nigerians, unlike before, millions of Nigerians make negative comments against dead top government officials, but in the case of Arase, millions of Nigerians took to their social media pages and comment sections to say good things about the IGP that policed the Nigeria states between April 2015 and June 2016, even human rights activists that always talk negative about the Nigeria Police Force like Barrister Adeyanju Deji, was among the earliest mourners on Sunday to be at the residence of the late IGP to pay a condolence visit with a tribute, saying; “May the soul of former IGP Solomon Arase rest in peace, In my about 20 years of knowing him, he helped us get freedom for many student union leaders and comrades who were unlawfully detained, As IGP and after his retirement, we remained close and continued to seek his help whenever citizens’ rights were abused”, we also observed that many serving and retired police officers like DCP Olumuyiwa Adejobi had took to their personal social media accounts to tell the world how good Solomon Ehigiator Arase was, during and after service, this, a Nigerian citizen by name Oluwaseun Odutayo took to the Nigeria Police Force Facebook comment section and said; “Hope the current IGP and all other AIGPs and DIGPs and all Nigeria Police Force officers are online and reading comments?, Hopefully we would get something like this to be written for them too when their own time comes”. #OsazuwaAkonedo
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00:00Solomon Ehejiator Arase may be the true definition of the popular saying that,
00:05police is your friend, if only you are a good character police officer.
00:09The former Inspector General of Police, Solomon Ehejiator Arase apparently validated the aforesaid
00:15statement to be true when his death was announced on Sunday, August 31, 2025.
00:22The death sparked uncommon good words of condolences from many Nigerians.
00:26Unlike before, millions of Nigerians make negative comments against their top government officials.
00:33But in the case of Arase, millions of Nigerians took to their social media pages and comment sections
00:39to say good things about the IGP that policed the Nigeria states between April 2015 and June 2016.
00:47Even human rights activists that always talk negative about the Nigeria police force like
00:53barrister Adi Anjudeji, was among the earliest mourners on Sunday to be at the residence
00:58of the late IGP to pay a condolence visit with a tribute, saying,
01:03May the soul of former IGP Solomon Arase rest in peace.
01:08In my about 20 years of knowing him, he helped us get freedom for many student union leaders
01:13and comrades who were unlawfully detained.
01:16As IGP and after his retirement, we remained close and continued to seek his help whenever
01:22citizens' rights were abused.
01:24We also observed that many serving and retired police officers like DCP Olumiyewa Adijabi had
01:31took to their personal social media accounts to tell the world how good Solomon Ehejiator Arase was.
01:37During and after service, this, a Nigerian citizen by name Oluasian Odatayo took to the Nigeria
01:44Police Force Facebook comment section and said,
01:48Hope the current IGP and all other AIGPs and DIGPs and all Nigeria Police Force officers are
01:55online and reading comments.
01:57Hopefully we would get something like this to be written for them too when their own time comes.
02:02President Bola Tanubu in a statement signed by the presidential spokesperson,
02:08Bayo Onanuga condoled with the Nigeria Police Force, NPF, over Solomon Ehejiator Arase, CFR,
02:16the 18th Indigenous Inspector General of Police, IGP, who died on Sunday at 69.
02:22President Tanubu commiserates with the family, friends and associates of the highly resourceful
02:28officer.
02:28Arase's reforms as IGP and later as chairman of the Police Service Commission brought lasting
02:34changes to the force.
02:36The president acknowledges the dedication of the former IGP to enhancing security in the
02:42country through initiatives such as the Intelligence Response Team, the Complaint Response Unit,
02:47and safer highway patrols.
02:50Reflecting on Arase's laudable service to the country, President Tanubu remarks,
02:55Arase served the police force meritoriously from 1981 to 2016.
03:01During his career, he led tactical, operational, and intelligence units, including United Nations
03:08Peacekeeping in Namibia, the Commissioner of Police in Akwaribom, and the Principal Staff
03:13Officer to three IGPs.
03:15He was Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Force Intelligence Bureau, FIB,
03:21and Deputy Inspector General of Police, Force Criminal Investigation Department.
03:27After retirement, he continued to serve the nation in various public roles, including as
03:33Chairman of the Police Service Commission and as Head of the Task Force on Implementing the
03:37Edo State Anti-Community Development Association Law.
03:41His expertise extended to consultancy roles with the Office of the National Security Advisor,
03:47ONSA, the European Centre for Electoral Support, the Human Rights Centre at the University of
03:53Oslo, and as a member of the Committee on Prevention of Torture in Geneva, Switzerland.
03:59I pray for the peaceful repose of the soul of this dedicated security expert, whose experience
04:05and contributions will be deeply missed by our nation.
04:08Meanwhile, the Nigeria Police Force has opened a condolence register at the force headquarters,
04:15Abuja, for the revered former police chief, as senior officers and staff pay their respects.
04:22In honor of his memory, the police flag will fly at half-mast in all commands and formations
04:27nationwide, according to the Nigeria Police Authority.
04:30In a statement issued on Sunday, the Nigeria Police Force says it's
04:36deeply saddened to renounce the passing of the 18th Indigenous Inspector General of Police
04:41of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and immediate past Chairman of the Police Service Commission,
04:47IGP Solomon Ahijia Tor Arase, CFR, NPM, FDC, FCIA, retired, who died in the early hours of
04:56Sunday, August 31, 2025 at Cedar Crest Hospital, Abuja after a brief illness.
05:03The news of the passing of IGP Arase was officially communicated to IGP Kayode Egbetokan,
05:11through his first son, Mr. Solomon Ozoboyan Arase, Jr., on Sunday.
05:15IGP Solomon Arase, born on 21 June, 1956, in Owen West local government of Edo State, attended
05:25Amadu Bello University, Zaria, where he earned his first degree in political science.
05:32He later obtained a bachelor's degree in law from the University of Benin, a master's degree
05:37in law from the University of Lagos and a Ph.D. in public law from the Ambrose Alley University
05:43at Poma, Edo State. He was enlisted into the Nigeria Police Force on the 1st of December,
05:501981. During the course of his illustrious policing career, IGP Arase served in various capacities
05:58including Principal Staff Officer, PSO, to three IGPs between 2002 and 2008, Commissioner of Police
06:07in Akwaribom State, Pioneer Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Force Intelligence
06:13Bureau, FIB, and DIG Force Criminal Investigation Department, FCID, respectively. He was appointed the
06:2118th Indigenous Inspector General of Police in April 2015 and retired on 21 June 2016. He was thereafter
06:30appointed the Chairman Police Service Commission on 24 January 2023 by late President Mohamedou Buhari,
06:38a post which he held until 10 June 2024. He is also a fellow of the Defense College and a member
06:45of the prestigious body of benches. During his tenure as the Inspector General of Police,
06:51he introduced major initiatives for the reform and improvement of the force, such as the Complaint
06:56Response Unit for swift responses to public complaints and adequate protection of citizens' rights.
07:02IGP Arase exemplified the highest standards of professionalism, bravery, and leadership,
07:09while his contributions to national security and police reform continue to resonate within the force
07:14and beyond. His passing is not just the culmination of a remarkable chapter but a moment of collective
07:20mourning of a man who served with pride and honor. Through the Solomon Ehijia Tor Arase Foundation,
07:27SEAF, he supported academic excellence by awarding scholarships to outstanding Nigerian students,
07:34with particular focus on children of deceased police officers and indigent students.
07:39The Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokan, PhD, NPM, while paying condolence visit to the
07:49family of the deceased IGP in Abuja today, extended half-held condolences on behalf of officers and men of the
07:57Nigeria Police Force, to the family, friends, and former colleagues of the late IGP Arase.
08:03IGP Kayode Egbetokan acknowledges the deep pain of this loss and praise for comfort, strength,
08:10and peace for all in this time of grief, while appreciating the contributions of the late police
08:15boss to police reforms and national security. The memory of late IGP Arase will forever remain
08:22edged in the heart of the force and the country he so faithfully served. May his soul rest in perfect
08:28peace, signed, DCP Olumi Iwa Adejabi, the force public relations officer for the Inspector General
08:36of Police on the 31st of August 2025. Former Edo, State Governor, Gobwin Obaseki in a statement on
08:44Sunday, said, I received with shock the news of the passing of our illustrious son, elder statesman,
08:50and patriot, Dr. Solomon Arase. His demise is a monumental loss, not only to his immediate family,
08:57but to Edo State and the entire nation. Dr. Arase etched his name in history as the first Edo son
09:04to ascend to the exalted office of Inspector General of Police. He bore the distinction with
09:10uncommon dignity, and in that high office, he served Nigeria with integrity, courage,
09:15and exemplary professionalism. His career was a legacy of discipline, excellence, and the highest
09:22ideals of public service. In retirement, he did not retreat from service. With a deep sense of duty
09:29to his people, he continued to lend his wisdom and experience. I had the privilege of working
09:35closely with him when, as governor, I appointed him to chair the Edo State Private Property Protection
09:41Committee, ESPPPC. In that role, he confronted the decades-long menace of land-grabbing with firmness
09:49and fairness, restoring order, sanity, and justice to our communities. Dr. Arase was much more than a
09:56public servant. He was a man of deep humanity, humble yet brilliant, firm yet compassionate,
10:03a leader whose life reflected his abiding belief in justice and the common good.
10:07His passing leaves a void that will be deeply felt across the nation. I extend heartfelt condolences
10:14to the Arase family, his friends, colleagues, the Nigeria Police Force, and indeed all Nigerians.
10:21May the Almighty grant us all the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss, and may his soul find
10:27eternal rest. Aquaribom State Governor, Pastor Yumo Eno said, yesterday, I received with shock and
10:35sadness the news of the passing of former Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase, CFR. On behalf of
10:42the government and people of Aquaribom State, I extend my deepest condolences to his family,
10:48the Nigeria Police Force, friends, and associates. The late IGP Arase served our nation with distinction
10:55as the 18th Inspector General of Police, where he introduced critical reforms in intelligence
11:01gathering and crime prevention. He also served Aquaribom as Commissioner of Police with passion
11:07and contributed to the peace and security we enjoy today. Even in retirement, as chairman
11:13of the Police Service Commission, he continued to serve our nation with commitment. May his soul
11:19rest in peace. There must be consequences for crime. Yes. So you would have advised these young people? I would want
11:25to appeal to the young ones out there that, you see, when you allow yourself to be used to, for the
11:35actualization of other people's dreams in such a negative way, you are doing a very big disservice to yourself and to the country.
11:43Violence is not a panacea to, you know, problems. There are, all of us will have problems, you know, and we all try to struggle to make sure that, you know, we are able to account to living. So I want to appeal to all the young men there.
11:59Whenever these guys, they call you out to come and, you know, become destructive, you should also think that they have most of their children in the Ivy League schools, you know, who are out there, you know, doing their own things.
12:03So don't, don't allow yourself to be used. There's always many tomorrow.
12:17There's always many tomorrow.
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