The 81 Division of the Nigerian Army has announced an investigation into allegations that some military personnel are shielding drug peddlers operating in the Apapa-Iganmu Local Council Development Area of Lagos.

The probe follows a public accusation by the chairman of Apapa-Iganmu LCDA, Jimoh Saliu, who claimed that senior military and police officers were frustrating efforts to tackle a notorious criminal enclave known as Gidan Drama in the Marine Beach community, close to Tego Army Barracks.

Saliu described Gidan Drama as a haven for drug dealers and other criminal elements, alleging that it has become a marketplace for illicit substances and stolen goods. He said the area has long terrorised residents and undermined security in the council.

According to him, criminals retreat into the enclave after committing offences, where they allegedly receive protection from uniformed personnel. He further alleged that attempts by local authorities to intervene have been met with intimidation and arrests.

Saliu cited a recent incident in which three staff members of the Apapa-Iganmu LCDA were arrested and taken to the Naval Dockyard while on what he described as an intelligence-gathering mission to Gidan Drama. They were reportedly released only after he intervened and explained their mission to the naval authorities.

The council boss warned that the continued existence of the enclave poses a grave threat to the future of children in the community, lamenting that wealthy residents have failed to invest in its development. He urged the Lagos State Government and private organisations to acquire the Gidan Drama area and convert it into a secondary school to reclaim the space from criminal control.

Responding to the allegations, spokesperson for the 81 Division, Lieutenant Colonel Musa Yahaya, said the claims would be investigated but stressed the need for clarity on which branch of the armed forces was being accused. He noted that the term “military” covers the Army, Navy and Air Force, and that specificity was necessary to aid any formal inquiry.

Yahaya added that such serious allegations require thorough investigation before any definitive response can be given, promising to make further inquiries within the Army’s 81 Division.