In a dramatic disclosure, former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ahmed Idris Wase, revealed that names of suspected members of Boko Haram and other criminal elements were once listed among recruits for the Nigerian Army and the Nigeria Police Force.
Wase made the claim during a special plenary session of the House focused on Nigeria’s security crisis. According to him, this infiltration represents a serious breakdown in the country’s recruitment protocols and poses a grave threat to national security. He stressed that having individuals with criminal backgrounds inducted into security agencies undermines trust and may explain why violent groups continue to operate with impunity in some parts of the country.
The lawmaker called for a comprehensive overhaul of the recruitment system, urging that only persons with integrity and clear backgrounds be recommended and hired. He argued the problem is not only institutional but also political, suggesting that patronage and lapses in due diligence may have allowed such infiltration to occur.
Several other lawmakers supported the concerns raised. They described the infiltration as symptomatic of broader structural failures — including weak vetting systems, under-funded security institutions, and lack of accountability all combining to exacerbate Nigeria’s deepening insecurity.
The disclosure has sent shockwaves through security and political circles, reviving calls for urgent reform and tighter oversight of recruitment procedures into the armed forces and police. Many observers warn that unless addressed, this kind of infiltration could continue to erode public trust in security institutions
