Anthony Okon Placid replaces Hundeyin as Force PRO

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

In a statement announcing the development, Hundeyin described Placid as “a seasoned officer with extensive experience in administration, operations, intelligence, training, and international peacekeeping.”

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, a Master of Arts in Law and Diplomacy from the University of Jos, and a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) from the National Open University of Nigeria.

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

Over the years, DCP Placid has attended several professional and international training programmes, including the United Nations Peace Operations Specialised Training (POST) and the UNITAR Senior Leadership and Peacebuilding course in Kenya. He also holds certifications in Police Studies, Military Studies, Gender Awareness, International Humanitarian Law, Human Rights, and Civilian Protection.

Placid has served in several strategic roles both within Nigeria and internationally. His previous positions include Police Public Relations Officer in Adamawa State and at the Police Staff College in Jos, Chief of Training for the African Union Mission in Sudan, and Head of Training and Development for the United Nations Mission in Darfur.

Within Nigeria, he has 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.

He has also worked as an African Union Election Security Adviser and served in operations and intelligence roles across Akwa Ibom, Kogi, and Abia states.

DCP Placid is a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), a Commonwealth Human Rights Trainer, and an International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Trainer on International Humanitarian Law.

He is also a graduate of the Senior Executive Course (SEC 47) of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, where he was inducted as a Member of the National Institute (mni) on December 13, 2025.

Placid is married with children and enjoys listening to music, playing football, basketball, table tennis, badminton, and engaging with people.