The Lagos State Police Command and protesting pensioners have given conflicting accounts of a confrontation at the Lagos State Government Secretariat in Alausa, Ikeja, with the retirees alleging that police fired tear gas at them, while the command denied using the chemical agent.
The disagreement followed a protest by the retirees over outstanding pension adjustments, wage awards and other entitlements they said remained unpaid by the Lagos State Government.
The protest came after the expiration of a 19-day ultimatum issued to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on August 6, demanding the payment of outstanding pension increases and wage-award entitlements or threatening a mass protest.
According to the protesters, under the aegis of the National Union of Pensioners, Contributory Pension Scheme (NUPCPS), Lagos State Council, they had gathered to press their demands when police operatives allegedly fired tear gas at them.
However, the Lagos State Police Command disputed the claim, maintaining that no tear gas was fired throughout the protest and describing reports to the contrary as false and misleading.
According to the command’s spokesperson, Abimbola Adebisi, on Tuesday, not a single canister of tear gas was fired by security operatives throughout the duration of the protest.
“The Lagos State Police Command wishes to debunk reports circulating on social media alleging 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, August 31, 2026,” she said.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the National Union of Pensioners, Contributory Pension Scheme, Lagos State Council, Comrade Michael Omisande, disputed the police account, insisting that the retirees were attacked with tear gas.
Omisande confirmed the allegation to The Guild in a telephone conversation after the publication received conflicting accounts of the incident and sought to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the confrontation.
He also referenced videos circulating online showing some protesters washing their faces and being assisted by others after allegedly inhaling the gas, saying the footage supported the pensioners’ account of the incident.
“It is not true. We were attacked. The police shot tear gas at us, and we have proof of it,” the chairman said.