Prominent figures on Friday assembled in Benin City to honour the late former Inspector-General of Police, Solomon Arase, who was buried at a private cemetery after a funeral mass at St. Paul Catholic Church.
Those present included the Edo State Governor, represented by his deputy Hon. Dennis Idahosa; Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri; Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun; former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi; and the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, represented by Chief Oseni Elamah and Chief Uso Osaretin, the Usoh of Benin Kingdom.
Other attendees were FRSC Zone 5 Commander, Stella Orakwe; Secretary to the Police Service Commission, Onyeabuchi Nnamani; and Senator Neda Imasuen.
Delivering his sermon, Reverend Father Andrew Obiyan called on the faithful to lead meaningful lives rooted in faith. He emphasized that worldly ranks and successes hold little value compared to spiritual grace.
“Our true life is in heaven, and we must never be distracted,” he said. “At death, titles mean nothing to God. What matters is living a life of faith.
“We give glory to God that Arase reached the peak of his career while serving with humility and love.”
Governor Diri described Arase as a patriot whose service to Nigeria was exemplary.
“Moments like this remind us of our mortality. We should be humbled to serve our state and country to the best of our ability. His professionalism, humility, and love for humanity remain his enduring legacies,” he said.
Arase, who died on August 31, 2025, held the office of Inspector-General of Police between 2015 and 2016.
