Plateau State lawmaker and former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ahmed Idris Wase, has raised alarm over the infiltration of Boko Haram members and other criminals into Nigeria’s security forces. He claimed that these individuals were discovered on Nigerian Army and police recruitment lists, undermining national efforts to combat insurgency and banditry.
Wase made the revelation on Wednesday, November 26, 2025, during a special plenary session convened to review the country’s security situation. Representing Wase Federal Constituency, he said former Chairman of the House Committee on Defence, Muktar Betara, could corroborate the findings.
The lawmaker noted that the presence of criminals in security institutions reflects deep flaws in Nigeria’s recruitment system. Sharing a personal perspective, Wase revealed that he lost both a brother and a cousin to terrorist attacks, and that the ongoing insecurity had forced his surviving younger brother to seek a transfer out of their community for safety.
According to Wase, incidents during recruitment exercises showed names of Boko Haram members alongside those of armed robbers on official lists. He also referenced a case where a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation reportedly spotted a known armed robber in a security uniform at an airport, prompting his immediate arrest.
Wase stressed that recruitment processes must prioritize integrity and character. He urged politicians recommending candidates to ensure nominees meet strict standards, warning that allowing criminals into security agencies prevents effective national protection. “A criminal in the system compromises every effort to secure our citizens,” he said.
The former deputy speaker further criticized those who exploit the country’s insecurity for personal gain, highlighting that criminal networks operate with impunity, often in organized convoys. He also condemned the politicization of citizenship and indigeneship, describing it as a key factor driving divisions within the country and calling for constitutional reforms to address it.
On the broader security crisis, Wase cited statistics showing that kidnappings have become routine, with about N5 billion reportedly paid in ransom over a year, and more than 30,000 people killed in Boko Haram-related attacks. He urged lawmakers to adopt a comprehensive approach to tackling the crisis, noting that the scale of insecurity is more severe than widely perceived and requires urgent, coordinated action.
Wase rejected framing the conflict as a religious war, emphasizing that attacks affect Muslims, Christians, and adherents of traditional faiths alike. “Labeling this as a religious conflict weakens unity and obscures the true nature of the problem. This is criminality, plain and simple,” he said.
He concluded by urging lawmakers and citizens to focus on practical solutions and reforms to restore peace and safety, insisting that addressing the issue as a criminal problem is essential to national security.