The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Olatunji Disu, has approved the appointment of Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Anthony Okon Placid as the new Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO) for the Nigeria Police Force, the outgoing spokesman announced on Sunday.
The change takes immediate effect, according to Benjamin Hundeyin, who has served in the role.
In a statement, Hundeyin described DCP Placid as a seasoned officer with broad experience in administration, operations, intelligence, training and international peacekeeping.
He said Placid was born on December 2, 1970, in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, and hails from Mbiokporo Nsit in Nsit Ibom Local Government Area of the state.
DCP Placid holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Geography and Regional Planning from the University of Uyo and a Master of Arts in Law and Diplomacy from the University of Jos. He also studied Law at the National Open University of Nigeria.
Placid joined the Nigeria Police Force as a Cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police at the Nigeria Police Academy in 1996 and was commissioned in August 1998.
The statement said throughout his career, he has attended several professional and international courses, including the United Nations Peace Operations Specialised Training (POST), where he obtained certifications in police studies, military studies, gender awareness, international humanitarian law, human rights, and civilian protection. He also participated in the UNITAR Senior Leadership and Peacebuilding course in Kenya.
The new police spokesperson has served in several strategic roles within and outside Nigeria. His previous assignments include Police Public Relations Officer in Adamawa State and at the Police Staff College in Jos, Chief of Training with the African Union Mission in Sudan, and Head of Training and Development with the United Nations–African Union Mission in Darfur.
He also served as Divisional Police Officer in Federal Housing Calabar, Bakassi, Uruan, and Gembu, 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.
DCP Placid is a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police and also serves as a Commonwealth Human Rights Trainer and an International Committee of the Red Cross trainer on International Humanitarian Law.
He is a graduate of the Senior Executive Course (SEC 47) at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru, and was inducted as a Member of the National Institute (mni) on December 13, 2025, before his redeployment to Cross River State.
Placid is married with children and enjoys listening to music, playing football, basketball, table tennis, badminton, and engaging with people.
