John Hodge was a colonial police officer who became Nigeria's Inspector-General of Police in 1962, he was the last expatriate to lead Nigeria's police force. Hodge began his career within the British colonial service. In Nigeria, he worked in all three regions in the country before retiring in 1964.

Life

Hodge, the son of missionaries was born in

Motihari Motihari is the headquarters of East Champaran district in the Indian States and territories of India, state of Bihar. It is located District entry point and New City 40.09 kilometres Northeast Mehsi. north of the state capital Patna. Geograp ...

, India. He started work as a colonial constabulary in Jamaica in 1931, he came to Nigeria in 1935 to become an Assistant Superintendent. In 1946, he led a special crime unit to investigate a case of murders relating to the Ekpe society in Southeastern Nigeria. Hodge was a senior police superintendent and had 95 rank and file policemen within his team. Hodge gradually rose through the ranks. He was deputy commissioner, Northern region, Kaduna in 1953, two years later he was posted to

Enugu Enugu ( ; ) is the capital city of Enugu State in Nigeria. It is located in southeastern part of Nigeria. The city had a population of 820,000 according to the 2022 Nigerian census. The name ''Enugu'' is derived from the two Igbo words ''Énú ...

to take charge as the regional police commissioner. In 1960, he became Deputy Inspector-General of police, a position he held until is appointment as commander of the 23,000 Nigerian police force in 1962.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hodge, John People from colonial Nigeria Nigerian police chiefs Indian expatriates in Nigeria People from Motihari