Personality in Focus
Former IG of Police, Solomon Arase, Dies at 69
Former Inspector-General of Police (IGP) and one-time chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC), Solomon Arase, is dead.
Arase reportedly passed away at Cedarcrest Hospital, Abuja. Though details surrounding his death remained sketchy as of press time. Neither his family nor the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has issued an official statement.
Arase, who was Nigeria’s 18th IGP, served between April 2015 and June 2016 before retiring from active service. He later emerged as chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC) in January 2023 following his appointment by the then President Muhammadu Buhari. However, he was removed from the position in June 2024 by President Bola Tinubu.
Born on June 21, 1956, in Owan West local government area of Edo State, Arase studied Political Science at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, graduating in 1980. He enlisted in the Nigeria Police Force on December 1, 1981, later bagging a Law degree from the University of Benin and a Master’s degree from the University of Lagos.
Before becoming IGP, he headed the Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Bureau, the Force’s top intelligence unit. He also held several key appointments, including Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State and Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Intelligence.
Source: leadership.ng
Nigerian academic, literary critic and Professor Emeritus Biodun Jeyifo, is dead. He was 80.
Jeyifo was widely regarded as one of the foremost scholars of Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka.
His passing was announced by the President of the Nigerian Academy of Letters, Andrew Haruna, in a statement on Wednesday, saying the scholar passed away on 11 February.
The Nigerian Academy of Letters expressed condolences to his family and the academic community, describing his passing as a significant loss to literary scholarship in Nigeria and beyond.
In January, an international scholarly gathering was held at the MUSON Centre in Lagos to mark his 80th birthday.
The event drew academics, writers and cultural figures in recognition of his lifelong contributions to literary studies and intellectual life.
Colleagues have often described Mr Jeyifo’s writing as both intellectually rigorous and accessible, blending critical depth with clarity of expression.
Beyond Soyinka studies, he was known for his wide-ranging engagement with world Anglophone literature, cultural theory and postcolonial thought.
Born on 5 January 1946, Mr Jeyifo was a Fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Letters and a prominent public intellectual whose career spanned several decades of teaching, research and mentorship across Nigeria and the United States.
Legendary gospel singer, Ron Kenoly, has passed away.
Kenoly’s death has been confirmed by several artistes via their social media pages.
He was 81.
Top Nigerian minister, Nathaniel Bassey, wrote on Instagram: “Dr Ron Kenoly crosses to yonder side.
“Thank you for inspiring generations of psalmists like me.
“I grew up on these songs. And today, others are growing up on ours.
“Thank you sir.”
Kenoly was behind hit songs like Majesty, righteousnes, peace & joy, Anointing, All honour, Sing out, among others.
The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, on Monday, approved the immediate posting of AIG Olatunji Rilwan Disu as the new Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Force CID Annex Alagbon Lagos. The redeployment is with immediate effect, the National Association of Online Security News Publishers, NAOSNP, can report.
Until the latest posting, AIG Disu was AIG in charge of Special Protection Unit (SPU).
NAOSNP recalls that AIG Disu once served as the Commissioner of Police FCT Command, and Commissioner of Police, Rivers State Command, among other exemplary roles. He was decorated with the AIG rank on March 25, 2025.
