The remains of former Inspector-General of Police, Solomon Ehigiator Arase, have arrived in Benin City, Edo State, for his final burial rites. The late police chief, who passed away on August 31, 2025, at the age of 69, will be laid to rest in a week-long programme of tributes, religious services, and cultural ceremonies.
A career officer, lawyer, and reformer, Arase was Nigeria’s 18th Inspector-General of Police, serving from April 2015 to June 2016. He was widely remembered for his emphasis on human rights, community policing, and the creation of structures such as the Complaint Response Unit (CRU) and the Intelligence Response Team (IRT). Post-retirement, he chaired the Police Service Commission from January 2023 until June 2024, and also founded the Solomon Ehigiator Arase Foundation (SEAF), which supported widows and children of fallen officers.
The funeral programme began in Abuja with a Day of Tributes on September 24, followed by a Requiem Mass at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Maitama, on September 26. His lying-in-state was held in Abuja before his remains were flown by the Nigerian Air Force to Benin on September 27.
The events will continue in Edo State with a candlelight procession in Sabongida-Ora on September 29. On October 2, a valedictory session will be held at the Edo State High Court, Benin, organized by the judiciary and the Nigerian Bar Association, followed by a Service of Songs at St. Paul’s Catholic Church, Airport Road, and a family lying-in-state.
The Funeral Mass and interment will take place on October 3 at St. Paul’s Catholic Church, with burial at his private residence in Benin City. The rites will conclude with a Thanksgiving Mass on October 5.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and the National Human Rights Commission have all paid glowing tributes to Arase, describing him as a patriot, reformer, and champion of justice.
As Edo State and the nation prepare to bid farewell, the legacy of Solomon Arase stands tall as one of service, courage, and commitment to building a more accountable police force.