Two soldiers of the Nigerian Army have been taken into custody following their suspected involvement in an unauthorized security deployment at a high-profile celebrity wedding in Lagos.
Military insiders confirmed to Sahara Reporters that intelligence reports flagged the illegal use of service personnel at the weekend ceremony held in the upscale Lekki neighborhood, Lagos.
The swift intervention by military authorities was triggered by viral social media footage captured during the lavish event hosted by popular content creators Habeeb Hamzat, known as Peller, and TikTok personality Jarvis.
Videos circulating online prominently featured uniformed soldiers acting in capacities resembling private bouncers and crowd controllers for celebrity attendees.
The detained personnel have been officially identified as Private Onasanya Ifeoluwa and Private Ukpai Onyinyechi, both posted to the 81 Division Medical Services and Hospital in Obalende.
The detained personnel are 23NA/85/10007 Pte Onasanya Ifeoluwa of the 81 Division Medical Services and Hospital (81DMSH) and 23NA/85/7885 Pte Ukpai Onyinyechi, who is also posted to 81DMSH in Obalende, Lagos.
In a statement relayed by the source: “Following credible intelligence on the involvement of Nigerian Army personnel in illegal deployment during popular social influencer’s wedding known as Peller at Lekki, Lagos, the Group arrested 23NA/85/10007 PTE Onasanya Ifeoluwa of 81 Division Medical Services and Hospital (81DMSH) and 23NA/85/7885 PTE Ukpai Onyinyechi of 81DMSH at Obalende this morning.
According to internal military communications, the arrests were executed Tuesday morning as preliminary investigations commenced to determine their specific roles and track down any additional accomplices.
Public backlash intensified swiftly across various digital platforms as citizens questioned the propriety of deploying state military assets for private entertainment gatherings.
Critics highlighted the stark contrast between official military mandates and the sight of armed personnel managing venue access and escorting influencers through dense crowds.
This incident underscores the strict prohibitions enforced by the Nigerian Army against personnel engaging in unauthorized private security or unapproved deployments.
As ongoing investigations into the celebrity wedding, which brought together numerous prominent online creators, unfold, military leadership aims to address breaches of protocol and reinforce operational discipline across all active ranks.
