The Director-General of the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution, Dr. Joseph Ochogwu, has appealed to Nigerians to support and respect security personnel, warning that attacks on them threaten national unity and peace.

In a statement signed and issued on Thursday, Ochogwu stressed the critical role security agencies, including the police, army, Department of State Services, and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, play in maintaining order and safeguarding the nation.

He described them as symbols of Nigeria’s sovereignty and called for greater public cooperation with law enforcement.

He condemned recent incidents involving the assault and killing of security officers, stating that such actions not only undermine public safety but also erode the values that hold the nation together.

“On no condition should citizens attack security officials, whether they are in service or not, on duty or not. They represent the symbol of our nationhood.

“When citizens mock, abuse, or harm them, what they are doing is killing the spirit of Nigeria,” the DG said

Ochogwu called on Nigerians to offer respect, dignity, and assistance to security forces.

He stressed that citizens have a shared responsibility in ensuring peace, urging them to provide timely and credible information to law enforcement agencies.

The DG noted that mutual support between citizens and security forces is essential for reducing crime and violence across the country.

“We need to build Nigeria. As much as the state has the obligation to protect lives and property, citizens too have the responsibility to support these officials to ensure they carry out their duty effectively,” he said.