21st April, 2015
President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has relieved the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Suleiman Abba of his appointment and duties with immediate effect.
His replacement, Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Solomon Arase is now the acting Inspector-General of Police with immediate effect.
Until his appointment as Abba’s replacement, Arase was the Head of the Force Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department.
Arase holds Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Law, as well as Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Political Science and Strategic Studies.
He is also a Fellow of the Nigerian Defence College.
He was also the former Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom. When he was appointed CP of Police in Akwa Ibom, he said this about his strategy and managerial style.
“Akwa-Ibom state is strategic to the socio-economic configuration of this country. It is home to well-respected intellectuals, highly successful professionals and businessmen, vibrant youths and highly literate population. The state also boasts of a multi-billion dollar oil-industrial complex and a very vibrant economy.
“A state with such a socio-economic configuration will, naturally, be a tempting destination to organised criminals. The challenge of policing such a state is how to develop a policing strategy that will be potent enough to effectively address crimes and fear of crimes, while at the same time remain conscious of the sensitivities and rights of the highly literate populace. It is, therefore, imperative for the police to develop effective pro-active strategies and evolve vital partnerships needed to guarantee peace and security within the ambits of due process and human rights statutes.
“In realization of this reality, my first task upon assumption of duty on Tuesday 6 September, 2011 was to immediately undertake a detailed assessment of the state of security in the state, review existing policing strategies and evolve a more-proactive anti-crime strategies that are premised on the principles of ‘Community Policing’, ‘Intelligence-Led Policing’ and ‘Zero Tolerance’ Policing.”