New Nigeria Police Spokesperson Named as IG Replaces Placid

The Nigeria Police spokesperson position has changed hands again, just three months after the last handover. Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Disu has approved CSP Anietie Okokon Edem Iniedu as the new Force Public Relations Officer. Iniedu now takes over from DCP Anthony Okon Placid, the outgoing Nigeria Police spokesperson.

The announcement came in a statement on Friday, first detailed in a report by Punch Newspapers. Notably, Placid himself signed the statement before exiting the role. He described his successor as a seasoned officer with broad experience. According to the statement, that experience spans public communication, operational policing, intelligence management, institutional accountability, and administration.

Placid only stepped into the role on March 8, 2026. He succeeded Benjamin Hundeyin at the time. So, his exit after roughly three months marks one of the shortest tenures in recent memory. Meanwhile, the police have not given further public details about the timing.

New Nigeria Police Spokesperson Takes Over From Placid

According to the statement, Disu expressed full confidence in Iniedu’s ability to lead the Force Public Relations Department. He noted that Iniedu’s experience would strengthen the force’s strategic communication efforts. It would also deepen public engagement, the IG added, especially amid ongoing policing reforms. Therefore, many Nigerians can expect a renewed push for clearer updates from police headquarters.

Police communication has taken on growing importance across Nigeria lately. The FPRO speaks for the force on crime reports, security operations, and public complaints. The office also manages the force’s image during sensitive incidents. Given those responsibilities, leadership at that desk carries real weight. Any change there draws close attention from journalists and ordinary citizens alike.

Background Of The New Nigeria Police Spokesperson

So, who exactly is stepping into the role? Iniedu hails from Etinan Local Government Area in Akwa Ibom State. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Pure Chemistry from the University of Uyo.

Over the years, Iniedu has built a fairly diverse career within the Nigeria Police Force. He served as Operations Officer at Maisandari Division in the Yobe State Command. From there, he became Area Crime Officer at the Umuahia Area Command in Abia State. Next, he worked as Staff Officer at the IGP Secretariat, Force Headquarters. He later served as Second-in-Command of the 50 Police Mobile Force Squadron in Kubwa.

Notably, he also served as Officer-in-Charge of the Force Headquarters Situation Room. In that post, he supervised the coordination and nationwide dissemination of crime and security information. That kind of work essentially prepared him for his current assignment. Before his latest appointment, Iniedu headed the Complaint Response Unit at Force Headquarters in Abuja. There, he coordinated public complaint management. He also championed initiatives for transparency, accountability, and public trust.

Additionally, Iniedu once served as Public Relations Officer of the Police College of Information Technology in Kobape, Ogun State. That posting was among several other operational and administrative roles he held nationwide. Together, they gave him early exposure to public-facing duties within the force.

Iniedu has also completed several professional trainings throughout his career. These cover investigative interviewing, crime scene management, and human rights-based policing. He has also trained in strategic communication and intelligence analysis. Such training typically equips officers for high-pressure media engagements and sensitive public inquiries. Given that mix of fieldwork and training, the force appears confident in his readiness. He now holds the Nigeria Police spokesperson position with immediate effect.

What Comes Next For Police Public Relations

Here is a quick snapshot of the handover. Iniedu becomes FPRO immediately, succeeding Placid, who took the post on March 8, 2026, right after Hundeyin’s exit. Disu, for his part, has publicly backed the new appointee’s range of experience in operations, intelligence, and complaints management. Within just three months, the Force Public Relations Department has now seen two different officers step into the lead role.

Strategic communication and public engagement sit at the heart of that confidence, in the IG’s own words. Both areas matter as the force continues pursuing its current reform agenda. This marks the second FPRO change in just over three months, following Placid’s own succession of Hundeyin back in March. Such quick turnover is uncommon for the role, and it has not gone unnoticed within police-watching circles.

The statement stayed focused on introducing Iniedu and his qualifications. It did not detail Placid’s next assignment within the force.

For now, though, attention turns to Iniedu and how he settles into the job. Nigerians who follow crime updates, security alerts, and police conduct rely heavily on the FPRO’s office. Therefore, the coming weeks should reveal how Iniedu’s approach differs from his predecessor’s. Until then, Iniedu carries the Nigeria Police spokesperson title and all the responsibilities that come with it.