The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, has approved the appointment of Anthony Okon Placid as the new Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO) of the Nigeria Police Force.

Placid, a Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), brings decades of experience in policing, administration, intelligence operations, training, and international peacekeeping assignments.

Born on December 2, 1970, in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, he 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 (MALD) from the University of Jos. He also studied Law at the National Open University of Nigeria for a Bachelor of Laws degree.

DCP Placid joined the Nigeria Police Force as a Cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police at the Nigeria Police Academy, Kano, in 1996 and was commissioned in August 1998.

Over the years, he has attended several professional and international courses, including the United Nations Peace Operations Specialised Training (POST). His certifications cover areas such as 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.

Throughout his career, Placid has served in numerous strategic positions both within Nigeria and internationally. His postings include Police Public Relations Officer in Adamawa State, PPRO at the Police Staff College in Jos, Chief of Training for the African Union Mission in Sudan, and Head of Training and Development with the United Nations Mission in Darfur.

He has 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.

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) of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru, where he was inducted as a Member of the National Institute (mni) on December 13, 2025.

The new police spokesman is married with children and enjoys listening to music and playing sports including football, basketball, table tennis, and badminton.

His appointment was announced by the outgoing Force Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, in a statement issued from Force Headquarters in Abuja on March 8, 2026.