Eugene Akosa Keazor

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(7 July 1907 – 1975) was a Nigerian

police The police are a constituted body of persons empowered by a state, with the aim to enforce the law, to ensure the safety, health and possessions of citizens, and to prevent crime and civil disorder. Their lawful powers include arrest and t ...

officer. From 1959 until Nigeria's independence the next year he held the most senior police rank ever held by an African in the British

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, retiring in 1964. It is also reputed that at many stages in his career, he was one of the most senior Indigenous Police Officers in the British Colonies.

Early life

Keazor was born in

Obosi Obosi is a city in Anambra State, southeastern Nigeria. It is a city hosting one of the most famous market in Nigeria, Mgbuka Obosi, among others. it also hosts the metropolitan areas of Enekwasumpu, Ozalla, Army Barracks, Umuota and Awada which ...

, Eastern

Nigeria Nigeria ( ), , ig, Naìjíríyà, yo, Nàìjíríà, pcm, Naijá , ff, Naajeeriya, kcg, Naijeriya officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa. It is situated between the Sahel to the north and the Gulf o ...

(in what is now

Anambra State Anambra State is a Nigerian state, located in the southeastern region of the country. The state was created on August 27, 1991. Anambra state is bounded by Delta State to the west, Imo State to the south, Enugu State to the east and Kogi State ...

) on 7 July 1907, to Ikeazor Uba Oboli I, a local chief and early convert to

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in Obosi. The young Keazor gained admission into the newly founded Obosi Community School and then Dennis Memorial Grammar School in

Onitsha Onitsha ( or just ''Ọ̀nị̀chà'') is a city located on the eastern bank of the Niger River, in Anambra State, Nigeria. A metropolitan city, Onitsha is known for its river port and as an economic hub for commerce, industry, and education. ...

in 1920 at the age of 13. He was an active member of the

Boy Scouts of Nigeria The Scout Association of Nigeria (SAN) is the national Scouting organization of Nigeria. Scouting was founded in the Colony and Protectorate of Nigeria in 1915 and became a member of the World Organization of the Scout Movement in 1961. SAN has ...

and was selected for the Inaugural World Scout Jamboree in Olympia, London in 1920.

Career

Keazor joined the West African Constabulary Force around 1927 and was selected for Officer Training in London, appointed Inspector in 1930 and later, assuming the rank of Assistant Superintendent. Upon his return to Nigeria he was assigned Command of the Panti Street Police Command in Central

Lagos Lagos (Nigerian English: ; ) is the largest city in Nigeria and the List of cities in Africa by population, second most populous city in Africa, with a population of 15.4 million as of 2015 within the city proper. Lagos was the national ca ...

, as Divisional Police Officer. He was selected for and attended the Funeral ceremony of

King George VI George VI (Albert Frederick Arthur George; 14 December 1895 – 6 February 1952) was King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth from 11 December 1936 until his death in 1952. He was also the last Emperor of Ind ...

as one of the representatives of the Colonial Police Force in February 195

Keazor attained the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police in 1959, the most senior position ever held by an African in what was to become the

Nigeria Police Force The Nigeria Police Force is the principal law enforcement and the lead security agency in Nigeria. Designated by the 1999 constitution as the national police of Nigeria with exclusive jurisdiction throughout the country, as at 2016 it has a s ...

while it was still under the Command of the British Government. He distinguished himself in service as part of the police contingent of

United Nations The United Nations (UN) is an intergovernmental organization whose stated purposes are to maintain international peace and international security, security, develop friendly relations among nations, achieve international cooperation, and be ...

Peace-Keeping Force drafted to

Congo-Kinshasa The Democratic Republic of the Congo (french: République démocratique du Congo (RDC), colloquially "La RDC" ), informally Congo-Kinshasa, DR Congo, the DRC, the DROC, or the Congo, and formerly and also colloquially Zaire, is a country in ...

during the crisis of 1960. He retired in 1964 to the United Kingdom, where he lived with his wife Anne Abiola Keazor (née Solanke). He died in 1975, survived by several children, notably Chief Timothy Chimezie Ikeazor SAN LLD, founder of the Nigerian Legal Aid scheme, The Honourable Justice Kenneth Keazor, a one-time Attorney-General and Judge of the Nigerian High Court, Dr. Henry Keazor, a retired Consultant Anaesthetist, and George Keazor, a former British Army paratrooper and civil servant.Mr.Oyebola Dada Adediran Keazor, works at High Court of Lagos as Civil Servant.

Awards

He was awarded the Colonial Police Medal in the 1953 Birthday Honours.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Keazor, Eugene Akosa 1907 births 1975 deaths People from Anambra State Nigerian police officers Recipients of the Colonial Police Medal People from colonial Nigeria Nigerian emigrants to the United Kingdom