Former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Idris Wase, has revealed that suspected Boko Haram members and other criminals were once discovered on recruitment lists for the Nigerian Army and Police.
He made the disclosure during a special plenary session dedicated to addressing Nigeria’s worsening security situation.
Wase, who represents Wase Federal Constituency in Plateau State under the All Progressives Congress (APC), warned that criminal infiltration of security institutions poses a serious threat to national stability.
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According to him, the claim can be corroborated by the former Chairman of the House Committee on Defence, now Chairman of the Committee on the Federal Capital Territory, Hon. Muktar Betara.
He said, “My brother and friend, the former Defence Committee Chairman, Hon Betara, can attest to 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 cautioned politicians and influential Nigerians against carelessly endorsing candidates for military and police recruitment, stressing that only credible and trustworthy individuals should be recommended.
The lawmaker, who emotionally revealed that he has lost a brother, cousin, and nephew to terrorist attacks, added that the North Central region accounts for about 52 per cent of Nigeria’s insecurity burden.
He also recounted a disturbing message from his younger brother who begged to be relocated from their violence-ravaged community.
Wase further called for a review of the presidential directive withdrawing police officers from VIP protection duties. While acknowledging the intention behind the policy, he argued that proper categorisation is necessary to avoid exposing key officials to danger.
Speaking for the North West Caucus, Sada Soli described insecurity in the region as “complex and layered,” driven by criminality, environmental challenges, weak governance, and economic hardship.
He warned that military action alone cannot solve the crisis, calling instead for a blend of security operations, governance reforms, environmental management, and economic development.
- “Lasting peace depends on rebuilding trust in government, reforming land and livestock systems, and ensuring that communities help shape solutions,” Soli said.
Representing the North East Caucus, Muktar Betara said the region remains the “ground zero of terrorism, insurgency and recurring communal violence.”
He recalled past tragedies, including the 2015 Baga massacre and multiple deadly bomb attacks.
- “Our challenges are massive, but with coordinated action, commitment, and sound strategy, we can restore confidence and stop the relentless spread of violence,” Betara stated.
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Speaking for the South South, Hon. Solomon Bob (PDP, Rivers) accused successive governments of lacking the political will to confront insecurity.
- “Since 1999, what we have seen is leadership failure. Governments have chosen to placate terrorists, negotiating with killers instead of enforcing the law,” he said, adding that describing terrorism as mere banditry minimizes its gravity.
Chairman of the House Committee on Women Affairs, Kafilat Ogbara, condemned the heavy impact of insecurity on women and children, citing recent mass abductions in Papiri and Kamba.
- “These are not just security failures; they represent a breach of the state’s core obligation to safeguard lives and property,” she lamented.
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