Security Breach: Boko Haram Members Found in Nigerian Military Recruitment
In a shocking revelation that has sent ripples through Nigeria's security apparatus, former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Ahmed Idris Wase has exposed how Boko Haram members and other criminal elements have successfully infiltrated recruitment processes for the Nigerian Army and police.
The alarming disclosure came during a special plenary session of the House convened to review the national security situation on Wednesday, November 26, 2025. Wase, who represents Wase Federal Constituency of Plateau State, sounded the alarm about what he described as a critical vulnerability in the country's security architecture.
Deep Flaws in Security Recruitment Processes
Wase revealed that during recruitment exercises, screening processes uncovered Boko Haram members and armed robbers among candidates shortlisted for sensitive security positions. The lawmaker stated that former Chairman of the House Committee on Defence, Muktar Betara, could confirm the disturbing incident.
"My brother, former chairman of defence, and my very good friend, Betara, will bear with me that we have moments when in the process of recruitment, Boko Haram members were found in the list," Wase told the assembly. "Other criminals and armed robbers were found in the list of Nigerian Army and the police."
The development points to what Wase described as deep flaws in Nigeria's recruitment processes, which have allowed individuals with criminal backgrounds to enter the very institutions tasked with protecting citizens.
Personal Tragedy and National Consequences
Speaking from personal experience, Wase disclosed that he lost both a brother and a cousin to terrorist activities. He argued that the infiltration of security agencies helps explain why criminal groups continue to operate freely across many parts of the country.
The security situation has become so dire that Wase revealed his surviving younger brother recently begged him for help to secure a transfer away from their community due to overwhelming safety concerns.
Wase cited a specific incident involving a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation who reportedly spotted a known armed robber wearing a Nigerian security uniform at an airport and immediately ordered his arrest.
Politicization and Call for Reform
The former deputy speaker emphasized the need for thorough vetting processes and called on fellow politicians to recommend only individuals of good character and integrity for security positions.
"There has to be a thorough way of ensuring that when we are recruiting, those of us who are politicians should recommend people of good character and integrity," Wase stressed. "That's the only way we can solve this problem. You find a criminal in the system, and before you know it, whatever you do, you cannot have the problem resolved."
He warned that Nigeria's security crisis persists partly because some individuals benefit from the chaos, enabling criminals to move in convoys and operate with impunity.
Staggering Statistics and Regional Impact
Wase presented alarming statistics to underscore the severity of the security situation, revealing that approximately N5 billion had been paid as ransom in kidnapping cases within a single year. He further noted that more than 30,000 people have been killed in Boko Haram-related attacks over time.
The lawmaker highlighted that more than half of all insecurity incidents recorded in West Africa occur in Nigeria, with the North Central region bearing the highest burden.
"North Central is the main area where 52 per cent of the insecurity and insurgency in this country is taking place," Wase stated. "Our people are dying. Our people have been displaced, those in the military, those in the security forces, and those at home."
Rejecting Religious Narratives
In a significant departure from common narratives, Wase strongly cautioned against attempts to frame the conflict along religious lines, insisting that the violence is driven purely by criminality.
"I want to disagree with those who are bringing the religious inkling into it," he asserted. "In these enclaves, you find Muslims, Christians, pagans. The ones that have been caught include all groups. So how do you define it as genocide against any faith?"
Wase argued that narratives casting the violence as a religious war weaken national unity and obstruct effective solutions to the security challenges.
"It just has to do with criminality, and we must brand it as criminality," he emphasized. "Otherwise, that division of religion will continue to attack us, and before we know it, we cannot tackle the problem effectively."
The former deputy speaker also lamented the politicization of indigeneship and citizenship, describing it as one of the key issues dividing the country and calling for constitutional reforms to address the problem.
Wase urged lawmakers to take a holistic approach to the crisis, stressing that the scale of insecurity facing the country is more dangerous than many realize and requires urgent, coordinated action from all stakeholders.
