2 Nigerian Soldiers Arrested Over Alleged Illegal Deployment at Peller, Jarvis’ Wedding

Two Nigerian Army personnel have been arrested by the Military Police over their alleged unauthorised deployment as private security operatives during the wedding ceremony of popular content creators, Peller and Jarvis.

The soldiers were reportedly taken into custody after viral videos from the high-profile wedding showed them acting as escorts and bodyguards for guests at the event.

According to reports, the personnel are being investigated for allegedly violating the Nigerian Army’s regulations on unauthorised deployment and conduct.

The soldiers were identified as Private Onasanya Ifeoluwa, attached to the 81 Division Medical Services and Hospital (81DMSH), and Private Ukpai Onyinyechi, who is also attached to the same formation in Obalende, Lagos.

The pair were reportedly arrested by officers of the Nigerian Army Military Police following the circulation of videos from the wedding, which was held in Lagos on July 31, 2026.

The lavish ceremony of social media personalities Habeeb Hamzat Adelaja, popularly known as Peller, and Elizabeth Aminata Amadou, better known as Jarvis, attracted celebrities, influencers and other notable personalities from across the country.

One of the videos that generated widespread reactions on social media showed a soldier escorting content creator and hypewoman Ivanna into the venue, with many Nigerians questioning the appropriateness of military personnel providing private security services at a civilian event.

The development has renewed public discussion about the Nigerian Army’s strict code of conduct, which prohibits personnel from undertaking unauthorised private security assignments capable of bringing the institution into disrepute.

The latest arrests come amid the military’s ongoing efforts to enforce discipline among its personnel.

In recent months, the Nigerian Army has sanctioned a number of soldiers for conduct considered inconsistent with military ethics, including a soldier who was detained after appearing on a TikTok livestream in military uniform while soliciting financial assistance.

Beyond the disciplinary action, the incident has once again brought attention to concerns over the welfare of military personnel. Analysts have noted that economic pressures and welfare challenges have, in recent years, contributed to isolated cases of soldiers engaging in unauthorised activities outside their official duties.

The issue has remained a subject of national conversation, particularly as Nigerian troops continue to shoulder heavy operational responsibilities in counter-terrorism and internal security operations across the country.

To address some of these concerns, the Federal Government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu approved the recruitment of 24,000 additional soldiers and announced an 80 per cent salary increase for military personnel as part of broader efforts to improve troop welfare and strengthen the nation’s security architecture.

While investigations into the latest incident continue, the Nigerian Army is yet to issue an official statement detailing the specific allegations against the arrested soldiers or the disciplinary measures they may face if found culpable.