Former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ahmed Idris Wase, has alleged that names of Boko Haram members were once found on a Nigerian Army recruitment list, warning that such infiltration is weakening the nation’s security system.
Speaking during a special House plenary on national security, Wase said the then-Chairman of the House Committee on Defence, Muktar Betara, could verify the incident. He said the case exposed serious lapses in recruitment procedures that have allowed individuals with criminal records to join sensitive security agencies.
Wase, who disclosed that he lost both a brother and a cousin to terrorism, said such infiltration explains why armed groups still operate freely across many regions. He added that insecurity has become so severe that his surviving younger brother pleaded to be relocated from their community.
He said:
“During recruitment, we discovered names of criminals — even Boko Haram members — on the Army list. We must ensure that when politicians recommend candidates, they put forward people of integrity. Otherwise, criminals enter the system, and the problem becomes impossible to solve.”
The former deputy speaker also warned that some people profit from the persistent insecurity, enabling armed criminals to move in groups without challenge.
Wase criticised the politicisation of citizenship and indigeneship, calling it a major factor dividing the nation and urging constitutional reforms.
He noted that kidnapping has become widespread, with about N5 billion paid as ransom in a single year, and more than 30,000 deaths recorded from Boko Haram-related violence over time.
Wase urged lawmakers to adopt a comprehensive strategy, stressing that the scale of the nation’s security crisis is far worse than many realise and demands urgent, coordinated action.
