TEARGASSING OF ELDERLY PENSIONERS: Groups Demand CP Fatai’s Sack, Independent Probe as Outrage Grows

Two rights groups, the #EndBadGovernance Movement and the Voice of the Masses and Support for Credible Leadership (VMSCL), have condemned the alleged tear-gassing of elderly pensioners by police officers at the Lagos State Government House, Alausa, describing the incident as an “unpardonable assault” on senior citizens.

The pensioners, who staged a peaceful protest on Monday, August 31, 2026, at the Lagos House, Ikeja, were demanding the payment of pension increases, wage awards, arrears and other outstanding entitlements from the Lagos State Government .

In separate statements issued on Tuesday, the groups demanded an independent investigation into the incident and full accountability for the police officers involved .

The #EndBadGovernance Movement specifically called for the immediate removal of the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, CP Tijani Fatai, and the arrest and prosecution of officers who participated in the alleged assault .

“We declare our solidarity with Lagos State pensioners and call on the Lagos State Government to immediately issue an unreserved public apology to them over this unprovoked and inexcusable assault,” the group said in a statement signed by Oloye Adegboyega-Adeniji and Hassan Taiwo Soweto for and on behalf of the Organising Committee .

The group also urged the state government to immediately resolve all outstanding issues concerning pension increases, wage awards, arrears and other entitlements owed to the retirees .

‘These Are Not Criminals’

According to the group, the use of teargas against elderly pensioners was unacceptable, particularly as they were exercising their right to demand legitimate benefits after decades of public service .

“It is outrageous that elderly Nigerians who spent decades working and serving the state could be met with such violence simply for demanding what is rightfully theirs,” the group said.

“These are not criminals. They are retirees demanding the payment of their entitlements in the face of a brutal cost-of-living crisis” .

The group accused the Lagos State Police Command of violating citizens’ constitutional rights to peaceful assembly, arguing that the police were obligated to protect peaceful protesters rather than disperse them with force .

“We hereby demand the immediate sack of the Commissioner of Police, Tijani Fatai, and the arrest and prosecution of all police personnel involved in this condemnable assault on the rights to freedom of assembly and in particular on elderly people who gave their prime to public service and thereby do not deserve to be treated in this manner,” the group added .

‘Consistent Pattern’ of Attacks

The #EndBadGovernance Movement further alleged that Monday’s incident was part of a “consistent pattern” of attacks on civil liberties in Lagos .

It compared the alleged teargassing of the pensioners with the police response to the January 28 anti-eviction protest in Alausa, where protesters had gathered against the alleged forced eviction and demolition of working-class communities .

According to the group, police officers also deployed teargas and excessive force during that demonstration, leading to arrests and injuries, while protesters’ equipment and personal belongings were allegedly seized .

“This is not a coincidence; it is a pattern,” the group alleged, accusing the Lagos State Government and security agencies of increasingly responding to dissent by deploying police personnel to disperse protesters .

“From young activists protesting against anti-poor policies to elderly pensioners demanding their legitimate entitlements, the response of the Lagos State Government and security apparatus increasingly appears to be: deploy the police, disperse the people and criminalize dissent,” the group said .

The group called on Amnesty International, civil society organisations and other human rights groups to investigate what it described as a “dangerous drift into authoritarianism” in Lagos State .

It also demanded the establishment of an independent panel of inquiry to investigate the conduct of the Lagos State Police Command in handling protests and demonstrations from August 1, 2024, to date .

The proposed panel, it said, should investigate allegations of police violence, arrests, intimidation, teargas deployment and other forms of excessive force against peaceful protesters .

‘Who Ordered the Teargassing?’

Meanwhile, VMSCL also condemned the alleged teargassing of the pensioners and demanded that the person or persons who authorised the use of teargas be identified and publicly named .

The group said the incident was particularly disturbing because the Chief of Staff to the Lagos State Governor, Tayo Ayinde, addressed the pensioners after the incident and said the governor did not order the use of teargas .

“This statement raises a critical and unanswered question: Who ordered the teargassing of peaceful elderly citizens?” VMSCL asked in a statement signed by Comrade Ibrahim Oluwatobiloba .

The group described the police action as “despicable, condemnable, shameful” and a violation of the protesters’ rights to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression .

“Elderly pensioners should never be treated with such disregard and force. The use of teargas against peaceful senior citizens is excessive, inhumane, and unacceptable in a democratic society,” Oluwatobiloba stated .

VMSCL demanded an immediate, independent, and transparent investigation, full accountability for police officers and officials involved, a public apology from the Lagos State Government, and urgent action to address the pensioners’ outstanding entitlements .

CDHR, Falana, Sowore Join Condemnation

The Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) also condemned the incident, describing the police action as “inhumane, unacceptable and a serious affront to human dignity” .

“Retired public servants are not criminals. Pension is not a favour, charity or privilege; it is a right and an entitlement earned through years of dedicated service,” the CDHR stated .

Human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) demanded the arrest and prosecution of the officers involved, describing the police action as unlawful .

Falana cited the 2008 Court of Appeal decision in Inspector-General of Police v All Nigerian People’s Party, which affirmed the right of Nigerians to organise rallies and demonstrations without obtaining a police permit .

He also cited Section 4 of the Nigeria Police Force Establishment Act 2020, which requires the police officer responsible for an area where a rally, meeting or procession is taking place to deploy personnel to provide security .

“The violent disruption of the peaceful rally of pensioners at Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos State, is a complete violation of the rights of the protesters to assemble and protest against the failure of the Lagos State Government to pay their pension as and when due,” Falana noted .

Activist and AAC presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore also condemned the incident, describing the teargassing as equivalent to pushing the pensioners “into a gas chamber” .

Pensioners Vow Indefinite Occupation

The pensioners, who had earlier issued the Lagos State Government a 19-day ultimatum to implement outstanding pension increases and wage awards, vowed to occupy the Alausa Government House indefinitely until their demands are met following the police intervention .

Michael Omisande, Chairman of the National Union of Pensioners under Contributory Pension Scheme (NUPCPS), Lagos State Council, said the protest would continue indefinitely following the use of tear gas against the retirees .

“Having spent many years serving the state government, it would not be fair that we are being subjected to untold pains to receive our entitlements,” Omisande said .

However, Omisande stated that representatives of the Lagos State Commissioner of Police later met with the pensioners and apologised, while Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who was out of Lagos, sent his Chief of Staff to meet the protesters .

The Chief of Staff reportedly held discussions with the pensioners and asked them to return to Alausa on Thursday for a meeting with the governor .

The National Pension Commission (PenCom) also announced that it was engaging the Lagos State Government and the Lagos State Pension Commission over the concerns raised by retirees under the Contributory Pension Scheme .

Both groups urged Nigerians, civil society organisations and the media to demand accountability over the incident and respect for the rights and dignity of the pensioners .