Mr Anthony Okon Placid has been appointed as the new Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), replacing Mr Benjamin Hundeyin.
Mr Placid, a Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), was chosen for the position by the new Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr Tunji Disu.
In a statement on Sunday by Mr Hundeyin, an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), his successor was described as “a seasoned officer of the Nigeria Police Force with extensive experience in administration, operations, intelligence, training, and international peacekeeping.”
The 55-year-old police officer was born on December 2, 1970, in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Geography and Regional Planning from the University of Uyo.
The indigene of Mbiokporo Nsit in the Nsit Ibom Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State also holds a Master of Arts in Law and Diplomacy (MALD) from the University of Jos and studied Law at the National Open University of Nigeria for a Bachelor of Laws (LLB)
He was appointed into the Nigeria Police Force as a Cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police at the Police Academy, Kano, in 1996, and was commissioned in August 1998.
He has attended several professional and international courses, including United Nations Peace Operations Specialised Training (POST), with certifications as an expert in Police Studies, Military Studies, Gender Awareness, International Humanitarian Law, Human Rights, and Civilian Protection. UNITAR Senior Leadership and Peacebuilding course in Kenya.
Mr Placid has served in various strategic capacities within and outside the country, including Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Adamawa State; PPRO, Police Staff College, Jos; Chief of Training, African Union Mission in Sudan; Head of Training and Development, United Nations Mission in Darfur; Divisional Police Officer in Federal Housing Calabar, Bakassi, Uruan, and Gembu; Officer-in-Charge, Anti-Robbery Unit, Kaduna State; African Union Election Security Adviser; Assistant Commissioner of Police (Operations) in Akwa Ibom and Kogi States; Assistant Commissioner of Police, Intelligence Department, Abia State; and Deputy in charge of Administration and Finance, Zone 3 Headquarters, Yola.
He is also a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), Commonwealth Human Rights Trainer and International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Trainer on International Humanitarian Law. He is a graduate of the Senior Executive Course (SEC 47) of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, and was inducted as a Member of the National Institute (mni) on December 13, 2025, prior to his redeployment to Cross River State.
The new police spokesman, who can be reached via 07031179186, is happily married with children. His hobbies include listening to good music, playing football, basketball, table tennis, badminton, and engaging with people.