Security

Alleged police attack on Lagos pensioners: RULAAC demands investigation

The Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre has called for a transparent probe into reports that police used tear gas against elderly pensioners protesting unpaid entitlements in Lagos. The group emphasized that peaceful assembly is a constitutional right and urged authorities to hold any erring officers accountable.

By Okechukwu Nwangumad1 September 20262 minutes read

Okechukwu Nwanguma, Executive Director, RULAAC

Call for Independent Investigation

The Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC) has called for an independent investigation into the reported use of tear gas and excessive force against elderly pensioners. The incident occurred during a protest at the Lagos State Government Secretariat and House of Assembly complex in Alausa, Ikeja, on Monday.

In a statement issued by its Executive Director, Okechukwu Nwanguma, RULAAC emphasized that conflicting accounts between media reports and police denials make a transparent and credible investigation imperative. The pensioners had gathered peacefully to demand the payment of outstanding pension adjustments, wage awards, and other entitlements allegedly owed to them by the Lagos State Government.

Peaceful protest is not a crime. It is a constitutionally protected means by which citizens express grievances and demand accountability from those who exercise public authority.
— Okechukwu Nwanguma, Executive Director, RULAAC

Constitutional Protections and Legal Framework

RULAAC aligned itself with the position of human rights lawyer Femi Falana, SAN, who called on the Inspector-General of Police to ensure that any officers responsible for the alleged actions are identified. The organisation cited Sections 39 and 40 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which guarantee the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.

The group also referenced the Court of Appeal judgment in Inspector-General of Police v. All Nigeria Peoples Party & Ors. This ruling affirmed that Nigerians do not require police permission to exercise their constitutional right to peaceful assembly. Furthermore, the Police Act 2020 mandates that the police institution should protect citizens and facilitate the lawful exercise of constitutional rights rather than suppressing them.

Concerns Over Disproportionate Force

The advocacy group expressed serious concern regarding the impact of police tactics on elderly citizens. They noted that any confirmation of tear gas being used against peaceful protesters who posed no threat would constitute a departure from professional human-rights standards.

If investigations confirm that tear gas was deliberately deployed against peaceful elderly protesters who posed no threat to public safety, such conduct would represent an unacceptable and disproportionate use of force and a serious departure from the professional and human-rights standards expected of the Nigeria Police Force.
— Okechukwu Nwanguma, Executive Director, RULAAC

Police officers should also remember that they too will retire someday. The struggle of today's pensioners for timely payment, dignity and decent treatment is ultimately a struggle that concerns every serving public officer, including members of the Nigeria Police Force.
— Okechukwu Nwanguma, Executive Director, RULAAC

Demand for Accountability and Dialogue

RULAAC urged the Inspector-General of Police to order an immediate investigation involving video recordings, photographs, eyewitness accounts, and police operational records. The probe aims to determine who commanded the deployment and whether the use of force met the legal requirements of necessity and proportionality.

Finally, the organisation called on the Lagos State Government to urgently engage with the pensioners to address their grievances regarding retirement benefits. The group stressed that those who have spent their productive years serving the state deserve dialogue rather than intimidation.