(DDM) – Dickson Iroegbu, a participant in the #FreeNnamdiKanu protest, has recounted harrowing details of the demonstration held on Monday, October 20, 2025, in Abuja.
Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) gathered that the protest was organised to demand the release of the detained Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, and was officially declared peaceful by its organisers.
In an interview with Arise News Television, Iroegbu alleged that security operatives violently disrupted the assembly, using tear gas and, shockingly, live ammunition against protesters.
“Nobody could move, we just assembled and before you knew it, not just tear gas but live bullets were released,” he said.
Iroegbu described how the security forces aggressively chased demonstrators from their original gathering points, including affluent districts of Abuja and areas occupied by ordinary citizens.
Protesters later relocated to Begger Roundabout and Utako, only to face continued aggression, including tear gas deployment and attempts to intimidate them into dispersal.
He questioned the government’s intentions, stating, “We now wonder what it is that the Nigerian Government wants from the Nigerian people, for us to be violent?” Iroegbu emphasised that the demonstrators had adhered to peaceful protest protocols throughout the day.
The participant highlighted a broader concern: if the police approached national insecurity with the same diligence and decisiveness as they did against peaceful protesters, Nigeria would experience a dramatic reduction in crime and unrest.
The incident comes amid nationwide attention on the selective application of justice, as many Nigerians and civil society actors continue to demand Kanu’s release despite multiple court orders.
Human rights organisations have condemned the use of excessive force, warning that such actions erode public trust in democratic institutions and the rule of law.
Iroegbu’s account adds to mounting reports of heightened security presence and disproportionate response during the protest, reflecting rising tensions between government authorities and citizens asserting their constitutional rights.
As calls for accountability grow louder, observers note that the handling of the #FreeNnamdiKanu protest could set a precedent for future demonstrations and the government’s approach to civil liberties in Nigeria.
