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The Lagos State Police Command has denied reports that its personnel fired tear gas at pensioners during Monday’s protest in Ikeja, describing a viral image allegedly depicting the incident as AI-generated.
The denial came after several reports said police used tear gas to disperse members of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) and retirees under the Contributory Pension Scheme who gathered in Lagos to demand the payment of outstanding pension benefits.
In a statement signed by the command’s spokesperson, SP Abimbola Adebisi, on Tuesday, the police described the allegation as “false and misleading,” insisting that no tear gas was used during the protest.
“The Command wishes to state unequivocally that the allegation is false and misleading. Not a single canister of tear gas was fired throughout the duration of the protest,” Adebisi said.
According to the command, about 500 NUP members arrived at the Lagos State Governor’s Office in Alausa at about 8:30 am on Monday.
The pensioners were led by their chairman, Michael Omishade, and Lagos State Nigeria Labour Congress chairperson, Agnes Funmi Sesse.
According to the police, personnel from the Rapid Response Squad, Lagos State Taskforce, Eko Strike Force and nearby police divisions were deployed to the area to maintain order and protect the pensioners and other members of the public.
The command said the pensioners subsequently dispersed peacefully at about 4:30 pm and that “no adverse incident” was recorded.
The police also challenged a photograph circulating on social media that purportedly showed the retirees being tear-gassed.
“The photograph in circulation is AI-generated and does not represent what transpired at the protest venue,” the command said.
The command also advised the public to rely on verified information from credible and authorised sources and to desist from circulating what it described as misinformation, manipulated images and unverified posts.
The police statement follows conflicting accounts of what happened during the protest.
Several media reports published on Monday reported that police fired tear gas at the pensioners, with some describing the incident as a response to the demonstration over unpaid pension-related benefits.
The pensioners’ protest was linked to a longer-running dispute over pension increases, wage awards and outstanding arrears.
Earlier in August, Lagos pensioners under the Contributory Pension Scheme had issued an ultimatum to the state government over the delayed implementation of pension increases and a wage award.
The union had said the proposed adjustment followed a template sent to the Lagos government in January 2026.
The retirees have also complained about outstanding pension adjustments dating back several years.
Their demands include implementing approved pension increases, paying wage awards, and settling arrears.
PRESS RELEASE
NUP PROTEST: NO TEAR GAS FIRED, CIRCULATING IMAGE IS AI-GENERATED
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… pic.twitter.com/pneLd7zTy5
— Lagos State Police Command (@LagosPoliceNG) September 1, 2026
