Former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Idris Wase, has revealed that suspected Boko Haram members and other criminals were once found on recruitment lists for the Nigerian Army and Police.
Wase, an All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmaker representing Wase Federal Constituency in Plateau State, made the disclosure during a special plenary session on Wednesday addressing the state of security in the country.
He said the infiltration of security institutions by criminally-minded individuals represents a major threat to national safety. “My brother and friend, the former Defence Committee Chairman, Hon Muktar 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 stated.
The lawmaker urged caution in recommending candidates for military and police recruitment, insisting that only credible and trustworthy individuals should be endorsed.
Wase, who disclosed that he has lost a brother, cousin, and nephew to terrorist attacks, said that the North Central region bears about 52 per cent of the nation’s insecurity burden. He recounted a plea from one of his younger brothers, who requested relocation from their violence-stricken community.
He also called for a review of the presidential directive withdrawing police officers from VIP protection duties, arguing that clearer categorization is needed to prevent unnecessary exposure to danger.
Speaking for the North West Caucus, Sada Soli described the region’s insecurity as “complex and layered,” driven by criminality, environmental pressures, weak governance, and worsening economic conditions. He stressed that lasting peace requires a mix of security operations and reforms in governance, environmental management, and economic development.
For the North East Caucus, Muktar Betara noted that the region remains the “ground zero of terrorism, insurgency, and recurring communal violence,” recalling incidents from the 2015 Baga massacre to recent bomb blasts. He called for coordinated action and sound strategy to restore confidence and curb the spread of violence.
From the South South, Hon. Solomon Bob (PDP, Rivers) criticized successive administrations for lacking political will to confront insecurity, arguing that governments have opted to negotiate with terrorists rather than enforce the law. He said: “Describing terrorism merely as banditry downplays the severity of the crisis.”
Finally, Chairman of the House Committee on Women Affairs, Kafilat Ogbara, highlighted the impact of insecurity on women and children, citing 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 said.