The death of former Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Solomon Ehigiator Arase, at 69, has once again drawn attention to the lives and service of Nigeria’s past police chiefs. Over the years, several former IGPs have passed away, each leaving behind a distinct legacy in the Nigeria Police Force.
Here is a list of some of them:
1. Solomon Ehigiator Arase (1956 – 2025)
- 18th indigenous IGP (2015–2016).
- Known for reforms such as the Complaint Response Unit and Safer Highway Patrols.
- Served in intelligence, operations, and peacekeeping missions.
- After retirement, he chaired the Police Service Commission and worked in international security consultancy.
2. Tafa Balogun (1947 – 2022)
- 21st IGP (2002–2005).
- Initiated community policing strategies.
- Later convicted for corruption, but remembered for efforts to modernize the force before his fall from grace.
3. Etim Inyang (1931 – 2016)
- IGP from 1983 to 1986.
- Introduced crime control strategies during a turbulent military era.
- Respected for professionalism and discipline.
4. Muhammadu Dikko Yusuf (1931 – 2015)
- IGP from 1975 to 1979.
- Advocated for a more independent police force.
- Later became a politician, contesting for presidency under the Action Democratic Party (ADP).
5. Gambo Jimeta (1937 – 2021)
- IGP from 1986 to 1990.
- Known for strict law enforcement and crime-fighting tactics.
- Served later as National Security Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan.
6. Mohammed Dikko Yusuf (1931 – 2015)
- (Already listed, correct placement above)
6. Ibrahim Coomassie (1946 – 2018)
- IGP from 1993 to 1999.
- Oversaw the police during Nigeria’s transition to democracy in 1999.
- Later served as Chairman of Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF).
7. Sunday Adewusi (1936 – 2016)
- IGP from 1981 to 1983.
- Youngest officer to rise to IGP at the time (in his 40s).
- Remembered for modernizing police operations.
8. Lewis Orok Edet (1914 – 1979)
- First indigenous IGP (1964–1966).
- Pioneered the Nigerian-led police structure after independence.
These men shaped different eras of policing in Nigeria — from post-independence reforms to military rule, democratic transitions, and modern crime-fighting strategies. While their tenures came with controversies, their contributions remain a crucial part of Nigeria’s policing history.
