Lagos Police Command Cries Foul, as Group Demands Sack of CP TIJANI Over Assault on Protesting Pensioners
The Lagos State chapter of the #EndBadGovernance group has condemned in the strongest terms the use of teargas by officers of the Lagos State Police Command against pensioners during a peacefully protest over unpaid entitlements at the Lagos House, Ikeja, on Monday August 31, 2026.
This comes as the Lagos State Police Command debunk reports circulating on social media claiming that members of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), Lagos State Council, were tear-gassed during their peaceful protest at the Lagos State House of Assembly on Monday. It alleges that images circulated on social media purporting to be from the scene of the protest were AI-generated.
In a statement signed by OLOYE ADEGBOYEGA-ADENIJI and HASSAN TAIWO SOWETO on behalf of the Organizing Committee, the #EndBadGovernance group declared its solidarity with Lagos State pensioners and called on the Lagos State government to immediately issue an unreserved public apology to them over what it called an unprovoked and inexcusable assault. “We also call on the government to immediately meet their demands and resolve all outstanding issues concerning pension increases, wage awards, arrears and other legitimate entitlements.”
The group said it was outrageous for elderly Nigerians who spent decades working and serving the state to be met with such violence simply for demanding what is rightfully theirs. “These are not criminals. They are retirees demanding the payment of their entitlements in the face of a brutal cost-of-living crisis” it asserted.
The #EndBadGovernance group condemned the conduct of the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, CP TUNJI FATAI, and the officers under his command, just as it reminded them that the police are constitutionally obligated to protect citizens exercising their rights, not attack them.
It emphasized that there is no justifiable excuse of explanation by the Nigerian for the action against the aged retirees, and went on to demand the immediate sack of CP TIJANI FATAI, and the arrest and prosecution of all police personnel involved in the “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 further expressed concern over what it described as a “consistent pattern of assault on civil liberties and utter disregard for citizens right on the part of the Lagos State Police Command aided and abetted by the Lagos State Government. Indeed, what happened on Monday 31st August 2026 bears a disturbing resemblance to the police assault on peaceful protesters during the January 28 anti-eviction protest in Alausa. On January 28, protesters gathered peacefully to oppose the forced eviction and demolition of working-class communities. Rather than protect their right to peaceful assembly, the police deployed teargas and excessive force against protesters and passersby, with several people requiring medical attention. Protesters were arrested and their equipment and personal belongings were seized. Yesterday, pensioners demanding their unpaid entitlements have suffered a similar fate.”
It observed that among the 36 states of the federation and the FCT, the APC-led government in Lagos has become the biggest threat to civil liberties in the country. “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 deployed by the police, disperse the people and criminalize dissent. This is completely unacceptable under a civil rule.”
The #EndBadGovernance group further noted that the right to peaceful assembly was under serious and growing threat in Lagos State. “We hereby urge Amnesty International, human rights groups and people of good conscience to beam their searchlight on Lagos state in order to arrest this dangerous drift into authoritarianism in Lagos state. We also demand the setting up of an independent and democratically-constituted panel of inquiry to forensically investigate the conduct of the Lagos state police command when it comes to management of public protest and demonstrations in the state especially since August 1st 2024 till now. The panel must review incidents of police violence, arrests, intimidation, use of teargas and other excessive force against peaceful protesters, including the January 28 anti-eviction protest and today's attack on pensioners. The panel must also identify officers and authorities responsible for violations and recommend appropriate disciplinary and criminal sanctions.”
However, in a statement by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP ABIMBOLA ADEBISI, the Lagos State Police Command dismissed the allegations of assault against protesting pensioners as “false and misleading”, stressing that “not a single canister of tear gas was fired throughout the duration of the protest.”
The PPRO trailed chronology of the event of Monday from about 08:30, adding that approximately five hundred members of the NUP, Lagos State Council, staged a peaceful protest at the Lagos State Governor’s Office, Alausa, Ikeja, led by their Chairman, Comrade MICHAEL OMISHADE, and the NLC Chairperson, Comrade AGNES FUNMI SESSE.
The police spokesman said in line with the constitutional responsibility of the Command to maintain law and order, and ensure the safety of the protesters and other members of the public, operatives from the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), Lagos State Taskforce, Eko Strike Force, as well as personnel from divisional headquarters within the axis, were deployed to the area. She said the security operation was coordinated and led by the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Department of Operations.
SP ABIMBOLA ADEBISI further noted that “the protesters were addressed by the Chief of Staff to the Lagos State Governor, Mr. TAYO AKINMADE AYINDE, after which the executives of the NUP proceeded to an indoor meeting at the Governor’s Conference Hall. The meeting lasted approximately three hours. The protesters subsequently dispersed peacefully at about 04:30 pm, with the area remaining calm and no adverse incident recorded.”
SP ADEBISI said “the Command is particularly concerned about the circulation of a photograph purportedly depicting the alleged teargassing of the retirees. The photograph in circulation is AI-generated and does not represent what transpired at the protest venue.”
She said members of the public are advised to exercise caution and refrain from creating, sharing, or amplifying unverified information capable of misleading the public, inciting unnecessary tension, or undermining public confidence.
“The Commissioner of Police, CP Tijani Fatai, psc, mnips, reiterates the Command’s commitment to protecting the rights of citizens to peaceful assembly and expression, while ensuring that such activities remain peaceful, orderly, and within the ambit of the law. He therefore enjoins members of the public to rely on verified information from credible and authorised sources and desist from creating or circulating misinformation, manipulated images, and unverified posts.”