By John Paul
The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has approved the appointment of Deputy Commissioner of Police, Anthony Placid, as the new Force Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Police Force.
Placid replaces the outgoing Force Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin.
The appointment was announced in a statement issued on Sunday by Hundeyin at the Force Headquarters in Abuja.
According to the statement, Placid is a seasoned police officer with extensive experience in administration, operations, intelligence, training, and international peacekeeping.
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 from the University of Jos. He also studied law at the National Open University of Nigeria, earning a Bachelor of Laws degree.
Placid joined the Nigeria Police Force as a Cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police at the Nigeria Police Academy in 1996 and was commissioned in August 1998.
He has attended several professional and international courses, including the United Nations Peace Operations Specialised Training, 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, including Police Public Relations Officer in Adamawa State and at the Police Staff College in Jos. He also served as Chief of Training with the African Union Mission in Sudan and Head of Training and Development with the United Nations–African Union Mission in Darfur.
His other postings 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, Intelligence Department, Abia State; and Deputy in charge of Administration and Finance at Zone 3 Headquarters, Yola.
Placid is a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police and a Commonwealth Human Rights Trainer. He also serves as a trainer with the International Committee of the Red Cross 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 (mni) on December 13, 2025, before his redeployment to Cross River State.
Placid is married with children and enjoys listening to music and playing football, basketball, table tennis, and badminton.