Former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ahmed Idris Wase has raised serious concerns over security breaches in the Nigerian Army, alleging that Boko Haram members were once discovered on the army recruitment list.
Speaking during a special plenary session of the House to review the country’s security situation, Wase warned that such infiltration weakens Nigeria’s security architecture and facilitates the operations of criminal groups.
Wase explained that the discovery of Boko Haram names in the recruitment list demonstrates systemic flaws in Nigeria’s security institutions.
According to him, the recruitment process has allowed individuals with criminal backgrounds to join sensitive national security structures, posing grave threats to national stability.
The lawmaker, who disclosed losing both a brother and a cousin to terrorist attacks, said the infiltration helps explain why armed groups continue to operate freely across the country.
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He revealed that insecurity has reached such a level that his surviving younger brother requested assistance in transferring out of their community for safety reasons.
Wase also highlighted the role of politicians in the recruitment process, stressing the need to recommend only people of integrity.
“When we recommend candidates, we must ensure they are of good character and meet the required standards. Failure to do so undermines the entire system,” he said.
He criticized the politicisation of citizenship and indigeneship, citing it as a major factor fueling insecurity and division in the country.
Wase urged the National Assembly to consider constitutional reforms to address these structural challenges.
The lawmaker further emphasized the scale of the security crisis, noting that about N5 billion in ransom was reportedly paid in a single year, while more than 30,000 people have lost their lives to Boko Haram-related attacks over time.
He stressed that the persistence of kidnappings and violent attacks indicates that Nigeria’s security apparatus must be overhauled to prevent further loss of life and property.
In conclusion, Wase called on lawmakers to adopt a comprehensive and coordinated approach to tackle insecurity, emphasizing that the current level of threat is more severe than widely perceived.
He insisted that addressing both recruitment flaws and political interference in security processes is crucial for restoring trust in the country’s defence and security institutions.
