Odita Sunday 
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) of the Nigeria Police Force.
Placid, a seasoned police officer with decades of experience across administration, operations, intelligence, training and international peacekeeping, takes over the strategic communication role at the Force Headquarters in Abuja.
Born on December 2, 1970, in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Placid hails from Mbiokporo Nsit in Nsit Ibom Local Government Area. 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.
He also studied Law at the National Open University of Nigeria for a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B).
He joined the Nigeria Police Force as a Cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police at the Nigeria Police Academy in Kano in 1996 and was commissioned into the Force in August 1998.
Over the years, the new police spokesperson has attended several professional and international courses, including the United Nations Peace Operations Specialised Training (POST), where he earned certifications 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.
Placid has served in several strategic roles within and outside Nigeria. His postings include Police Public Relations Officer in Adamawa State and at the Police Staff College in Jos, Chief of Training at the African Union Mission in Sudan, and Head of Training and Development at the United Nations Mission in Darfur.
His other assignments include 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.
A member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, Placid is also 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.
DCP Placid is married with children. His hobbies include listening to music, playing football, basketball, table tennis and badminton, as well as engaging with people.
The appointment was announced in a statement issued on Sunday in Abuja by the outgoing Force Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin.
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