The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, has attended a public lecture organised to mark the one-year remembrance of former Inspector-General of Police, IGP Solomon Ehigiator Arase (Rtd), who died on August 31, 2025.
The event, held on Sunday, August 31, 2026, featured a lecture themed “Policing, Good Governance, and National Development: The Strategic Role of Police Veterans in Building a Secure Nigeria.”
According to the Nigeria Police Force, the lecture brought together retired senior police officers, former Inspectors-General of Police, associates of the late Arase and other dignitaries to reflect on his contributions to policing and the welfare of retired personnel.
Among those in attendance were former Inspectors-General of Police, Sunday Ehindero and Mohammed Abubakar; retired Assistant Inspector-General of Police Yemi Ogunyemilusi; Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Police Veterans’ Foundation, retired Deputy Inspector-General of Police Mohammed Yesufu; National President of the Police Officers’ Wives Association, POWA, Chief Mrs Mutiat Olufunmilola Disu; and the widow of the late IGP, Mrs Agharese Arase.
Other participants included retired senior police officers, representatives of the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Police Service Commission and Defence Headquarters, as well as members of the Force Management Team.
In his opening remarks, Yesufu described the late Arase as an exceptional leader whose commitment to the welfare of retired police officers was reflected in his role as founder and chairman of the Police Veterans’ Foundation.
He called for the establishment of a Veterans Affairs Department within the Nigeria Police Force to strengthen support for retired officers.
According to him, such a department would help advance the Foundation’s mandate and ensure that retired police personnel continued to benefit from relevant Federal Government programmes and support.
Paying tribute to the late former police chief, IGP Disu said Arase understood that policing was fundamentally about protecting lives, respecting human dignity and building public confidence in the police.
The IGP described the late Arase as a leader distinguished by “service, intellect, integrity, humanity and sacrifice,” adding that his contributions to policing extended beyond his years in active service.
“He was a man who understood that policing is, at its core, about protecting people’s lives, respecting their dignity, and building public confidence in the police,” Disu said.
The National President of POWA, Chief Mrs Disu, also commended the late police chief’s service and humanitarian contributions, particularly his scholarship support for children of fallen police officers and efforts to address the socio-economic challenges faced by retired personnel.
She described the late Arase as an embodiment of “peace, sacrifice and professionalism,” particularly under challenging circumstances.
Discussions at the event focused on policing, good governance, leadership and the continued development of the Police Veterans’ Foundation.
Participants appealed for the Foundation to be strengthened and developed into a lasting institution that would provide lifelong support for retired police officers.
The event concluded with the presentation of awards to beneficiaries, including the widow of the late IGP, Mrs Agharese Arase.
The Nigeria Police Force said it remained committed to honouring serving and retired officers who had contributed to national security and pledged to strengthen ties between active personnel and police veterans.
