- Safiu Kehinde
The Nigeria Police Force has confirmed the removal of its Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, as the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, appointed Anthony Okon Placid, as the new Force spokesperson.
NPO Reported that some police sources hadast week disclosed the removal of Hundeyin barely six month after his appointment.
The removal was considered part of the ongoing leadership reshuffling under thr new IGP Disu.
Confirming the development in a statement issued on Friday, Hundeyin announced Disu’s approval of Anthony Okon Placid as the new Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO).
Placid, as profiled by the outgoing Force spokesperson, is a seasoned officer of the Nigeria Police Force with extensive experience in administration, operations, intelligence, training, and international peacekeeping.
Born on 2 December 1970 in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, he hails from Mbiokporo Nsit, Nsit Ibom Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom 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 (M.A.L.D) from the University of Jos and studied Law at the National Open University of Nigeria forstudied Bachelor of Laws (LL.B).
Placid 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 expert in Police Studies, Military Studies, Gender Awareness, International Humanitarian Law, Human Rights, and Civilian Protection. UNITAR Senior Leadership and Peacebuilding course in Kenya
DCP 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.
Heaso severved as Officer-in-Charge, 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, Zone 3 Headquarters, Yola.
DCP Anthony Placid 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 13 December 2025, prior to his redeployment to Cross River State.
The new Police spokesperson can be reached on 07031179186.