RIGHTS GROUPS DEMAND ACCOUNTABILITY OVER ALLEGED POLICE ACTION AGAINST LAGOS PENSIONERS

Several civil society organisations have called for an independent investigation into the alleged use of tear gas to disperse elderly pensioners who gathered in Lagos to protest unpaid pensions, gratuities and other outstanding entitlements.

The groups, operating under the aegis of the Centre for Human and Socio-Economic Rights and other civil society organisations, condemned the reported incident and demanded that anyone found responsible for using excessive force against the retirees should be held accountable. The pensioners had reportedly assembled at the Lagos State House of Assembly on Monday to draw attention to their outstanding financial obligations from the government.

Speaking during a press conference in Ijaye on Wednesday, the President of the CHSR, Alex Omotehinse, described the incident as another worrying example of what he considered a growing pattern of security forces disrupting protests by citizens seeking to draw attention to their grievances.

Omotehinse argued that elderly citizens who had gathered to demand their legitimate entitlements should not have been subjected to force. He maintained that peaceful protest is a constitutional means through which citizens can communicate their concerns to government and urged the authorities to protect, rather than intimidate, protesters exercising that right.

Another activist, Oluwatobiloba, questioned the conflicting explanations surrounding the incident and called for authorities to establish exactly what happened at the protest venue. He pointed to differences between statements attributed to the police and the Lagos State Government, arguing that the inconsistencies made an impartial investigation necessary.

The controversy intensified after the Lagos State Police Command initially rejected claims that its officers had tear-gassed the pensioners. The command said a photograph circulating on social media and allegedly showing the retirees being tear-gassed was AI-generated and did not accurately represent events at the protest venue. Police authorities also cautioned members of the public against creating or sharing unverified information capable of causing tension.

However, a subsequent statement from the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Anietie Iniedu, acknowledged the incident while defending the police's position on the use of force. Iniedu said the law permits the Nigeria Police Force to employ proportionate force when dealing with riotous or disorderly gatherings, while also maintaining that pensioners have the right to present their grievances through appropriate channels.

The police spokesperson referred to previous confrontations involving pensioners, including incidents in Abuja where protesters reportedly blocked highways and entered the premises of the Presidential Villa. He said the Inspector-General of Police had previously invited representatives of the pensioners and advised them on appropriate ways to present their grievances.

Despite that explanation, the civil society groups insisted that the circumstances surrounding the Lagos incident must be independently established. They called for any police officers found to have participated unlawfully in the alleged dispersal to face appropriate disciplinary or legal action.

The groups also urged Inspector-General of Police Tunji Disu to take action concerning the conduct of the Lagos State Police Command and ensure that security personnel respect the rights of vulnerable citizens during peaceful demonstrations. They argued that the protection of citizens and maintenance of public order should not come at the expense of fundamental rights.

The controversy comes amid the pensioners' continuing demand for the payment of outstanding pensions, gratuities, wage awards, pension increases and other benefits they say are owed to them. The civil society organisations maintained that the government's response should focus on resolving the underlying grievances rather than suppressing demonstrations.

They further warned that repeated use of force against peaceful protesters could undermine public confidence in democratic institutions and discourage citizens from exercising their constitutional rights. The groups therefore called for transparency over the incident and urged the relevant authorities to publish the outcome of any investigation conducted.

As the conflicting accounts continue to generate public concern, the central issue remains whether excessive force was used against the elderly protesters and, if so, who authorised the action. The civil society groups said only a transparent investigation can resolve the conflicting narratives and determine responsibility.