The Lagos State Police Command has denied reports that pensioners were tear-gassed during a protest at the Lagos State House of Assembly on Monday, August 31, 2026.
The command also said a photograph circulating on social media and purportedly showing the alleged use of tear gas on the retirees was generated using artificial intelligence (AI).
The denial followed reports that police tear-gassed pensioners during a protest in Alausa, Lagos, prompting human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), to call for the arrest and prosecution of the officers allegedly involved.
The pensioners had gathered at the Lagos State Government Secretariat and the House of Assembly complex to demand payment of outstanding pension adjustments and wage awards.
The dispute is part of a prolonged disagreement between retired Lagos public servants and the state government over pension increases, consequential adjustments and wage awards, which the retirees say remain unpaid.
The pensioners are expected to meet with Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu later in the week to present their grievances and seek a resolution to the outstanding issues.
However, speaking at the command headquarters in Ikeja on Tuesday, the police spokesperson, Abimbola Adebisi, described reports of tear-gassing as “false and misleading.”
She said no tear gas was fired during the protest.
In a statement titled, ‘NUP protest: No tear gas fired, circulating image is AI-generated,’ the command said about 500 members of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Lagos State Council, arrived at the Governor’s Office in Alausa at about 8:30 a.m. on Monday.
The protesters were led by their chairman, Comrade Michael Omishade, alongside the NLC Chairperson, Comrade Agnes Funmi Sesse.
According to the police, operatives from the Rapid Response Squad, Lagos State Taskforce, Eko Strike Force and various divisional headquarters were deployed to the area to maintain law and order and ensure the safety of the protesters and other members of the public.
The security operation was reportedly coordinated by the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations.
The police said the protesters were addressed by the Chief of Staff to the Lagos State Governor, Tayo Akinmade Ayinde, after which the NUP executives proceeded to an indoor meeting at the Governor’s Conference Hall.
The meeting lasted approximately three hours, while the protesters subsequently dispersed peacefully at about 4:30 p.m., with the command reporting no adverse incident.
The police further stated that the image circulating online and purportedly showing the retirees being tear-gassed was AI-generated and did not depict events at the protest venue.
The command urged members of the public to refrain from sharing unverified information, warning that such reports could mislead the public, create unnecessary tension and undermine confidence in security agencies.
The Commissioner of Police, Tijani Fatai, reaffirmed the command’s commitment to protecting citizens’ rights to peaceful assembly and expression.
