The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, has removed Benjamin Hundeyin as the Force Public Relations Officer and appointed Anthony Okon Placid as his replacement.
The appointment was approved by the police chief as part of a new leadership arrangement for the public relations department of the Nigeria Police Force.
In a statement, the police announced the appointment of the senior officer.
“IGP APPOINTS DCP ANTHONY OKON PLACID AS FORCE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER
The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, psc(+), NPM has approved the appointment of DCP Anthony Okon Placid, psc(+), mni as the new Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO).”
The statement described Placid as an experienced police officer with a long record of service in administration, operations, intelligence, training and international peacekeeping.
Born on December 2, 1970, in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Placid is 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, a Master of Arts in Law and Diplomacy from the University of Jos, and 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, Kano, in 1996 and was commissioned in August 1998.
During his career, he attended several professional and international courses, including the United Nations Peace Operations Specialised Training programme, where he obtained certifications in police studies, military studies, gender awareness, international humanitarian law, human rights and civilian protection.
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He also participated in the UNITAR Senior Leadership and Peacebuilding course held in Kenya.
The senior officer has served in several strategic roles both within Nigeria and abroad. His previous positions include Police Public Relations Officer in Adamawa State, PPRO 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.
He also served as Divisional Police Officer in Federal Housing Calabar, Bakassi, Uruan and Gembu, as well as Officer-in-Charge of the Anti-Robbery Unit in Kaduna State.
Other roles he held include 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 47 of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru, and was inducted as a Member of the National Institute on December 13, 2025.
He is married with children and enjoys listening to music, playing football, basketball, table tennis and badminton, as well as interacting with people.