The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, has approved the appointment of Deputy Commissioner of Police, Anthony Okon Placid, as the new Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), in a move aimed at strengthening the Nigeria Police Force’s public communication architecture.
The announcement was contained in a statement issued in Abuja on March 8, 2026, by the outgoing Force Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, who described Placid as a seasoned police officer with extensive operational and administrative experience.
Placid, who brings decades of policing expertise to the role, has served in multiple strategic capacities spanning administration, intelligence, operations, training and international peacekeeping assignments.
Born on December 2, 1970 in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, the new police spokesman hails from Mbiokporo Nsit in Nsit Ibom Local Government Area of the state.
He 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, while also pursuing legal studies at the National Open University of Nigeria.
Placid joined the Nigeria Police Force as a Cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police at the Police Academy Kano in 1996 and was formally commissioned into the force in August 1998.
Over the years, he has undergone several professional and international trainings, including the United Nations Peace Operations Specialised Training programme, where he earned certifications in Police Studies, Military Studies, Gender Awareness, Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law.
His operational footprint spans numerous sensitive postings, including Police Public Relations Officer in Adamawa State and the Police Staff College in Jos, Divisional Police Officer in several commands, and leadership roles in international missions such as the African Union Mission in Sudan and the United Nations Mission in Darfur.
Beyond field operations, Placid has also served as Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of operations in Akwa Ibom and Kogi States, intelligence chief in Abia State, and Deputy in charge of Administration and Finance at Zone 3 Headquarters in Yola.
A graduate of the Senior Executive Course 47 of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru, he was inducted as a Member of the National Institute (mni) in December 2025, bringing strategic policy expertise to his new role as the public face of the Nigeria Police Force.