27th November, 2025
A former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ahmed Idris Wase, has exposed a disturbing security breach, revealing that Boko Haram terrorists and criminal elements were previously found among candidates shortlisted for recruitment into the Nigerian Army and Police Force.
The revelation came on Wednesday during a special plenary session convened by the House to address the escalating security crisis confronting the nation. Wase, who currently represents Wase Federal Constituency in Plateau State under the All Progressives Congress, described the infiltration as a critical threat to Nigeria’s security framework.
The lawmaker, who also serves as leader of the North Central Caucus, said his claims can be independently verified by Honourable Muktar Betara, former Chairman of the House Committee on Defence and current Chairman of the Committee on the Federal Capital Territory.
“My brother and friend, the former Defence Committee Chairman, Honourable Betara can confirm this. There were recruitment exercises where names of known Boko Haram members appeared on the shortlist. Armed robbers and other criminals were also found among those cleared for the Army and Police,” Wase stated.
He urged politicians to exercise greater caution and responsibility when recommending candidates for security positions, stressing that only individuals of proven integrity and good character should be endorsed. According to him, the presence of criminals within the security apparatus explains why violence persists in many regions despite government interventions.
Speaking from personal experience, Wase disclosed that he has lost a brother, cousin and nephew to terrorist attacks. He revealed that insecurity has become so severe that his surviving younger brother begged him for help to be transferred out of their violence-stricken community.
The lawmaker stated that the North Central region bears approximately 52 percent of Nigeria’s total insecurity burden, calling for urgent strategic intervention to address the crisis.
Wase also called for a careful review of the recent presidential directive withdrawing police officers from VIP protection duties. While acknowledging the policy’s good intentions, he argued that proper categorisation is necessary to prevent exposing key officials to unnecessary danger.
Contributing to the debate, Honourable Sada Soli, speaking on behalf of the North-West Caucus, described security challenges in the region as complex and multifaceted, driven by criminality, environmental pressures, weak governance and deteriorating economic conditions. He emphasized that military operations alone cannot resolve the crisis, advocating for comprehensive reforms in governance, environmental management and economic development.
Honourable Muktar Betara, speaking for the North-East Caucus, described the region as ground zero for terrorism, insurgency and recurring communal violence. He recalled tragic incidents ranging from the 2015 Baga massacre to numerous bomb attacks that have claimed countless civilian and military lives.
Senator Solomon Bob, a Peoples Democratic Party lawmaker from Rivers State representing the South-South zone, accused successive administrations since 1999 of lacking the political will to confront insecurity decisively. He criticized what he called the government’s tendency to negotiate with terrorists rather than enforce the law, arguing that describing terrorism as mere banditry downplays the severity of the national crisis.
Honourable Kafilat Ogbara, Chairman of the House Committee on Women Affairs, highlighted the devastating impact of insecurity on women and children, citing recent mass abductions in Papiri and Kamba as evidence of the state’s failure to protect vulnerable citizens.