Army Arrests Two Soldiers Over ‘Illegal’ Duty at Peller’s Wedding
The Nigerian Army has arrested two serving soldiers over their alleged involvement in an unauthorised deployment during the lavish wedding ceremony of content creators Habeeb Hamzat, popularly known as Peller, and his bride, Jarvis, held in Lekki, Lagos State, over the weekend.
Military sources said the arrests followed credible intelligence indicating that Army personnel had participated in an illegal deployment at the celebrity wedding, which attracted several prominent entertainers, social media influencers, and content creators. The two personnel were identified as Private Onasanya Ifeoluwa and Private Ukpai Onyinyechi, both attached to the 81 Division Medical Services and Hospital (81DMSH) in Obalende, Lagos. According to a top military source, the soldiers were apprehended on Tuesday morning as investigations into the incident got underway.
The arrests came after videos from the high-profile wedding circulated widely across social media platforms, showing men in military uniform managing access to parts of the venue and escorting guests through the crowded ceremony. One clip that drew particular public attention allegedly showed a soldier acting as a bouncer for TikTok personality Ivanna, escorting her through the venue. The footage triggered widespread criticism online, with many Nigerians questioning why serving military personnel were allegedly deployed to a private social event involving influencers and celebrities.
Confirming the development, Lieutenant Colonel Musa Yahaya, spokesperson for the 81 Division, told journalists that the soldiers were arrested on Tuesday and remain in custody as the Army continues its investigation. A military source described the situation as one in which authorities were working to establish the extent of the personnel’s involvement and identify any other soldiers who may have been connected to the incident, adding that further details would be released as the investigation progresses.
The Nigerian Army has repeatedly maintained that serving personnel are strictly prohibited from undertaking unauthorised private security duties or participating in illegal deployments without official approval. The military is expected to determine whether the soldiers acted independently, received unofficial instructions from a third party, or were engaged through some other unauthorised channel.
Peller and Jarvis’s wedding, held over the weekend, became one of the most talked-about celebrity events in recent weeks, drawing large crowds of fans and guests and dominating social media conversation throughout the celebration. The controversy over the soldiers’ presence has added an unexpected layer of scrutiny to what was otherwise being celebrated as one of the year’s biggest influencer weddings, with the Army’s swift action signalling zero tolerance for unauthorised use of military personnel and uniforms at private civilian functions
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