Susan Abayomi
The Lagos State Police Command has denied reports alleging that its officers tear-gassed members of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), Lagos State Council, during their protest at the Lagos State House of Assembly on Monday, August 31, 2026.
The Command described the allegation as false and misleading, insisting that no tear-gas canister was fired throughout the duration of the protest.
In a statement issued by the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Abimbola Adebisi, and released to the National Association of Online Security News Publishers (NAOSNP), the Command said about 500 members of the NUP staged a peaceful protest at the Lagos State Governor’s Office, Alausa, Ikeja, at about 8:30 a.m.
According to the statement, the protesters were led by the NUP Lagos State Council Chairman, Comrade Michael Omishade, alongside the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Chairperson, Comrade Agnes Funmi Sesse.
The police said personnel from the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), Lagos State Taskforce, Eko Strike Force and various divisional headquarters within the area were deployed to maintain law and order and protect 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 Command said the protesters were addressed by the Chief of Staff to the Lagos State Governor, Mr Tayo Akinmade Ayinde, after which the NUP executives proceeded to an indoor meeting at the Governor’s Conference Hall.
According to the police, the meeting lasted about three hours, while the protesters later dispersed peacefully at approximately 4:30 p.m., with no adverse incident recorded.
Reacting to a photograph circulating on social media which purportedly showed pensioners being tear-gassed, SP Adebisi said the image was AI-generated and did not reflect what happened at the protest venue.
“The Command is particularly concerned about the circulation of a photograph purportedly depicting the alleged tear-gassing of the retirees. The photograph in circulation is AI-generated and does not represent what transpired at the protest venue,” the statement said.
The police spokesperson urged members of the public to exercise caution and avoid creating, sharing or amplifying unverified information that could mislead the public, create unnecessary tension or undermine confidence in security agencies.
The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Tijani Fatai, reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to protecting citizens’ rights to peaceful assembly and expression.
He, however, stressed the need for such activities to remain peaceful, orderly and within the provisions of the law.
The Command also urged residents to rely on verified information from credible and authorised sources and to refrain from creating or circulating misinformation, manipulated images and unverified social media posts.
It reiterated its commitment to maintaining peace and security across Lagos while carrying out its duties with what it described as humility and integrity.
