Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
A coalition of nine civil society organisations (CSOs) in Lagos has accused the state police command of attempting to cover up the tear-gassing of elderly pensioners who were peacefully protesting unpaid entitlements at the Lagos State House of Assembly. The groups, which include the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR), the Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC), and the #EndBadGovernance Movement, condemned the incident as a "cruel, unacceptable, disgraceful, and indefensible abuse of state power".
The pensioners, members of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) and retirees under the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS), had gathered at the Government House in Alausa on Monday, August 31, 2026, following the expiration of a 19-day ultimatum over unpaid pension increases, wage awards, and arrears. According to multiple media reports and eyewitness accounts, police officers deployed to the scene fired tear gas at the elderly protesters, forcing them to flee.
However, the Lagos State Police Command issued a swift and categorical denial. In a statement, the command's spokesperson, SP Abimbola Adebisi, insisted that "not a single canister of tear gas was fired throughout the duration of the protest". The police also dismissed a viral photograph purportedly showing the incident as "AI-generated" and urged the public to disregard it.
The CSOs have rejected this denial, pointing to glaring contradictions that undermine the police's credibility. The groups highlighted the account of Mr Latif Salau, Deputy Chairman of the Nigerian Pensioners Practitioners of Lagos State, who reportedly told journalists that a senior police officer apologised to the pensioners after the alleged attack and provided them with sachet water and biscuits. "If the teargassing did not occur, as the police claim, why would an officer apologise to the protesters afterwards?" the coalition asked.
The coalition is demanding an independent investigation into the assault and the subsequent conduct of the Lagos State Police Command. They have specifically called on the Police Service Commission (PSC) to examine the conduct of the police spokesperson, SP Abimbola Adebisi, arguing that "if an officer entrusted with communicating on behalf of the police is found to have deliberately misrepresented or concealed facts about an alleged assault on citizens, she should not remain in that position".
The CSOs also questioned why force was allegedly used against the pensioners in the first place. "What threat did these pensioners pose? Were they armed? Were they violent?" they asked. The groups argued that the incident is part of a broader pattern of repression of civil rights in Lagos State, citing the January 28, 2026, protest against alleged illegal demolitions where demonstrators were also subjected to police violence.
The controversy took another twist on Wednesday when the Nigeria Police Force appeared to backtrack on the initial denial. Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Anietie Iniedu, defended the use of tear gas on the pensioners, stating that the law permits the police to use "proportionate force to quell any riotous or disorderly gathering". This defence came barely 12 hours after the Lagos Command insisted no tear gas was used.
Meanwhile, the Lagos State Government has denied ordering the police to use tear gas against the protesters. Chief of Staff to the Governor, Mr Tayo Ayinde, reportedly apologised for the incident while absolving the state government of responsibility. The CSOs have called on Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to immediately pay the outstanding pension arrears owed to retirees, insisting that pension payments are earned rights and not acts of government benevolence.
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