FALANA DEMANDS JUSTICE OVER PENSIONERS’ TEAR-GASSING

Human rights lawyer Femi Falana has called for justice following the alleged use of tear gas by police officers against elderly pensioners during a protest.

Falana condemned the reported incident and urged the authorities to investigate the circumstances surrounding the confrontation.

The pensioners were reportedly protesting over unpaid entitlements and pension-related concerns when the incident occurred.

Falana said elderly citizens who were peacefully demanding their rights should not be subjected to excessive force.

He called on the relevant authorities to identify those responsible and ensure that any officer found to have acted unlawfully is held accountable.

The lawyer also urged the government to address the pensioners’ outstanding demands and prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.

The development has renewed concerns about the treatment of protesters and the protection of citizens’ rights during public demonstrations.

Falana stressed that citizens have a right to express their grievances through peaceful protest and that security agencies are expected to handle such situations within the limits of the law.

He urged the government to engage the affected pensioners and work towards resolving the issues that led to the protest.

The incident has also attracted reactions from rights groups and other stakeholders calling for greater respect for the rights and dignity of elderly citizens.

Falana maintained that the government should prioritise dialogue and lawful dispute resolution rather than the use of force.

He called for a transparent investigation into the incident and urged authorities to ensure justice for the affected pensioners.