After Initial Denial, Police Backtrack, Defend Use of Tear Gas on Lagos Pensioners
* CSO decries violent attack, use of tear gas on pensioners Linus Aleke in Abuja The Nigeria Police Force has defended the use of tear gas on pensioners in Lagos State
The Nigeria Police Force has defended their use of tear gas against pensioners during a peaceful protest in Lagos State. This defense came just 12 hours after the command had initially denied using tear gas, claiming the images circulating online were AI-generated. The Police Public Relations Officer, Ikeja, SP Abimbola Adebisi, stated that the command was concerned about the spread of unverified photographs that may mislead the public.
However, the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Anietie Iniedu, reiterated that the Nigerian Constitution does not grant citizens the right to behave disorderly when voicing their grievances. He emphasized that the police have the authority to use proportional force to control any riotous or disorderly gathering. A civil society group, Global Rights, strongly condemned the incident, expressing concern over the use of tear gas against elderly pensioners who were peacefully protesting for their overdue pension payments and other benefits.
They emphasized that peaceful protest is a vital component of a democratic society and that citizens should be able to demand accountability from the government without facing intimidation or unnecessary force.
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