Public affairs analyst, Dickson Iroegbu, has criticized the Nigeria Police Force for its handling of peaceful protests, saying the country would have little or no insecurity if officers confronted criminals the same way they do protesters.

Speaking on Prime Time, an Arise Television programme monitored by DAILY POST on Monday, Iroegbu reacted to the police response to the “Free Nnamdi Kanu” protest held in Abuja. Reports alleged that officers fired tear gas and live ammunition at protesters, though the police have denied those claims.

“I commend my brother, Sowore,” Iroegbu said, referring to activist Omoyele Sowore, who organized the peaceful demonstration demanding the release of detained IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu.

“I was born seven years after the civil war, and for the first time, I felt loved as an Igbo man by another Nigerian. Today’s protest was peaceful, but if you go around Abuja, you’ll see the police in action. If they tackled insecurity the same way they tackle protesters, we won’t be facing insecurity in this country,” he added.

He condemned what he described as the unnecessary use of force on citizens exercising their rights, stressing that such actions damage public trust and deepen societal divisions.

The incident has reignited debate about police reform and the need for balanced law enforcement practices in Nigeria.