Army Probes Claims of Soldiers Shielding Drug Peddlers in Lagos
Last update: February 9, 2026
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Nigerian Army investigates allegations of soldiers protecting drug sellers...
The 81 Division of the Nigerian Army has said it will investigate allegations that some military officers are shielding drug peddlers operating within the Apapa-Iganmu Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of Lagos State.
The move followed accusations by the LCDA chairman, Jimoh Saliu, who alleged that certain senior military officers were protecting illicit drug dealers in the area.
CBI News reports that Saliu made the claims in a statement on Sunday, describing a location known as Gidan Drama in the Marine Beach community of Apapa.not far from the Tego Army Barracks as a major hub for criminal activities.
According to him, the area has become a hideout for notorious criminals involved in the sale of illicit drugs and stolen goods.
He said the situation has made the community unsafe and difficult for local authorities to police.
Speaking at an event marking the 70th anniversary of the Corona Schools Trust Council at St Theresa Nursery and Primary School, Marine Beach, Saliu appealed to the Lagos State Government and concerned organisations to acquire the area for the construction of a secondary school.
“The security situation in the LCDA is so bad and porous that even here in Marine Beach, there is a place called Gidan Drama, which is a nightmare to our existence,” he said.
“The whole area has been troubled by these bad boys, and I have been working with the police to track them down. If you go there now, you will find top military and police officers making it difficult to arrest drug peddlers and other criminal elements operating in the area.”
Saliu further alleged that suspects often flee into the area after committing crimes and are shielded from arrest.
He expressed concern over the impact of the situation on children and community development.
“With this situation, the future of our children is uncertain,” he said.
“If you go to Gidan Drama at night, you will see people bringing out bales of naira to buy all sorts of illicit drugs. If any local government official goes there, they are threatened or arrested.”
He also recalled that three staff members of the Apapa-Iganmu LCDA were arrested two weeks earlier and taken to the Naval Dockyard, noting that they were later released after he explained they were on an intelligence visit to the area.
Reacting to the allegations, the spokesperson of the 81 Division of the Nigerian Army, Lt Col Musa Yahaya, said investigations would be required before any conclusions could be drawn.
He noted that the chairman needed to clearly state which arm of the military was involved.
“When you say ‘military,’ you are referring to the Army, Navy, and Air Force. The military is a very large organisation,” Yahaya said.
“I speak for the 81 Division of the Nigerian Army. Issues like this require investigation before any response. I cannot speak on it for now, but I will make inquiries,” he told The PUNCH.
