A senior Nigerian lawmaker has made shocking revelations about the infiltration of Boko Haram members and other criminal elements into the country's security recruitment processes.
Security Breach in Recruitment Systems
Ahmed Wase, leader of the North Central Caucus in the House of Representatives, disclosed that names of Boko Haram members were once discovered on both Nigerian Army and Police recruitment lists. The lawmaker, who represents Wase federal constituency of Plateau State, made this alarming revelation during a special plenary session focused on national security on Wednesday.
Wase, a former deputy speaker, warned that such infiltration fundamentally undermines Nigeria's security architecture. He stated that his claims could be verified by Muktar Betara, the former Chairman of the House Committee on Defence, who witnessed the concerning discovery.
Personal Tragedy and Security Concerns
The lawmaker spoke from personal experience, having lost close family members to terrorist violence. "I lost one of the most gallant Nigerian soldiers, my cousin, in the course of this. I lost my younger brother, same mother, in Borno," Wase emotionally revealed to his colleagues.
He further explained that insecurity has become so severe in his region that his surviving younger brother begged him for help to secure a transfer away from their community. The lawmaker's personal losses underscore the real-world consequences of security failures.
Call for Recruitment Reforms
Wase emphasized that the discovery of terrorists in recruitment lists highlights deep flaws in Nigeria's security vetting processes. He specifically called on fellow politicians to recommend only individuals of proven character and integrity for security positions.
"There were moments in time when, in the process of recruitment, Boko Haram were found in the list. Other criminals, armed robbers, gangs, were found in the list of Nigerian army and police," Wase stated during the parliamentary session.
The lawmaker stressed that once criminals enter the security system, it becomes extremely difficult to address the problems they create. He urged comprehensive reforms to ensure that recruitment processes effectively screen out dangerous elements.
Regional Security Crisis
Wase provided concerning statistics about the distribution of insecurity across Nigeria, revealing that 52% of insurgency activities are concentrated in the North Central geopolitical zone. This region has become a hotspot for terrorist operations and communal violence.
The lawmaker's disclosure comes amid recent reports of simultaneous attacks by suspected Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists across five communities in Borno and Yobe states. Affected areas included Mafa, Dikwa, Marte, and Ajiri in Borno, as well as Katarko in Yobe.
Wase also called for a review of the presidential order withdrawing police officers from VIP protection duties, arguing that such directives need careful categorization to avoid creating additional security vulnerabilities for public officials.
