Pensioners’ Tear-Gassing: CHSR Demands Arrest, Prosecution of Lagos Police Officers

Human rights group challenges CP Tijani Fatai over alleged ‘AI-generated’ protest footage, demands full investigation

By Our Correspondent

The Centre for Human and Socio-Economic Rights (CHSR) has demanded the immediate arrest and prosecution of police officers allegedly involved in the tear-gassing and violent disruption of a peaceful protest by pensioners at the Lagos State House of Assembly.

The elderly pensioners had reportedly gathered at the Assembly gate on Monday, August 31, 2026, to demand the payment of their outstanding pensions, gratuities and other entitlements.

But the protest, according to CHSR, was allegedly disrupted with the use of tear gas and other forms of force by security personnel.

In a strongly worded statement issued on Wednesday, September 2, CHSR described the reported action as “inhumane, unacceptable and a serious affront to human dignity.”

The statement was signed by the organisation’s President, Comrade Alex Omotehinse.

‘Pension is not charity’ — CHSR

CHSR said the protesters were elderly men and women who had devoted several productive years of their lives to the service of Lagos State and should not be treated as criminals for demanding benefits legitimately owed to them.

“Pension is not a favour, charity or privilege. It is an entitlement earned through years of dedicated public service,” the organisation declared.

According to the rights group, the grievances displayed on the protesters’ placards reflected the severity of the hardship confronting many retirees, including difficulties associated with unpaid pensions and health challenges.

CHSR maintained that the appropriate response to such grievances should be dialogue and prompt resolution rather than intimidation, harassment or the use of force.

‘Lagos pensioners deserve dignity, not tear gas’

The organisation questioned why elderly citizens who spent their working lives serving Lagos State should be subjected to what it described as humiliating treatment while demanding their legitimate entitlements.

CHSR argued that government has a duty to protect the welfare and dignity of senior citizens.

It further reminded members of the security agencies that they too would eventually retire.

“The elderly pensioners protesting today are the parents, relatives and predecessors of many serving public officials and security personnel. They deserve respect, restraint and dignity,” the organisation said.

CHSR challenges CP over ‘AI-generated’ footage claim

The human rights group also challenged Lagos State Commissioner of Police, CP Tijani Fatai, over the reported claim that some of the photographs and video footage emerging from the pensioners’ protest were AI-generated.

CHSR described the position as an apparent “damage control” effort and demanded a thorough investigation into the incident.

The group challenged the Commissioner of Police to establish the truth.

“We hereby challenge the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, CP Tijani Fatai, to investigate the incident and, if truly the news were fake, then the perpetrators should be brought to book,” CHSR stated.

According to the organisation, the issue should not be reduced to a public relations battle, particularly because the alleged victims were elderly citizens who had devoted a substantial part of their lives to public service.

11-point demands

CHSR presented a series of demands to the Lagos State and Federal Governments as well as the police authorities.

Among other things, the organisation demanded:

• Immediate payment of all verified outstanding pensions, gratuities and allowances owed to retirees.
• Publication of a clear and time-bound schedule for settling outstanding pensioners’ entitlements.
• Direct and constructive engagement between the Lagos State Government and pensioners’ representatives.
• A full investigation into the reported tear-gassing of the elderly protesters.
• Public disclosure of the outcome of the investigation.
• Accountability for any security personnel found to have acted unlawfully.
• Respect by the police and other security agencies for citizens’ constitutional rights to peaceful assembly and expression.
• Urgent training and retraining of security personnel on the professional management of peaceful protests.
• Greater emphasis on restraint, dialogue and respect for human dignity during demonstrations.
• Immediate action by the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Tunji Disu, to arrest and prosecute officers found responsible for the alleged assault and disruption of the protest.
• Solidarity from organised labour, the Nigeria Labour Congress, professional bodies, human rights organisations and other Nigerians with the affected pensioners.

‘Lagos must not become hostile to peaceful protesters’

CHSR warned that Lagos State must not become a place where elderly citizens are tear-gassed, intimidated or humiliated for demanding what they believe to be their lawful entitlements.

The organisation called on the Lagos State Government to approach the matter with urgency and sensitivity.

“The most appropriate response to the grievances of pensioners is not force but dialogue, accountability and immediate action,” CHSR said.

The rights group further urged the government to demonstrate that public servants who spent their productive years serving Lagos State would not be abandoned in retirement.

CHSR said it would continue to monitor the situation and advocate for the affected pensioners until their grievances were adequately addressed.

— Centre for Human and Socio-Economic Rights (CHSR)