The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Disu, has appointed Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Anthony Okon Placid as the new Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO) of the Nigeria Police Force, effective immediately, succeeding Acting ACP Benjamin Hundeyin.
The announcement was made in a statement issued on March 8, 2026, from Force Headquarters in Abuja by the outgoing FPRO, Hundeyin, who described Placid as a seasoned officer with extensive experience spanning administration, operations, intelligence, training, and international peacekeeping missions.
Born on December 2, 1970, in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, and hailing from Mbiokporo Nsit in Nsit Ibom Local Government Area, DCP Placid holds a Bachelor of Science in Geography and Regional Planning from the University of Uyo, a Master of Arts in Law and Diplomacy from the University of Jos, and pursued a Bachelor of Laws at the National Open University of Nigeria.
He joined the Nigeria Police Force in 1996 as a Cadet Assistant Superintendent at the Police Academy in Kano, receiving his commission in August 1998. Over his career, he has undertaken numerous professional and international trainings, including United Nations Peace Operations Specialized Training with expertise in police studies, military studies, gender awareness, international humanitarian law, human rights, and civilian protection. He also completed the UNITAR Senior Leadership and Peacebuilding course in Kenya.
DCP Placid’s postings include serving as Police Public Relations Officer in Adamawa State and at the Police Staff College in Jos; Chief of Training for the African Union Mission in Sudan; Head of Training and Development for the United Nations Mission in Darfur; Divisional Police Officer in various divisions across Cross River and Taraba States; Officer-in-Charge of the Anti-Robbery Unit in Kaduna State; African Union Election Security Adviser; Assistant Commissioner of Police (Operations) in Akwa Ibom and Kogi States; Assistant Commissioner of Police in the Intelligence Department in Abia State; and Deputy in charge of Administration and Finance at Zone 3 Headquarters in Yola.
A member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), he is also a Commonwealth Human Rights Trainer and an International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Trainer on International Humanitarian Law. In December 2025, he was inducted as a Member of the National Institute (mni) after completing the Senior Executive Course (SEC 47) at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) in Kuru.
The appointment comes amid a leadership reshuffle under the new IGP Disu, who assumed office recently, and coincides with reports of a new Media Office within the Force headed by CSP Ali Giwa.
Placid, who is happily married with children and enjoys sports such as football, basketball, table tennis, and badminton alongside listening to music, can be reached at 07031179186.
