Former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Idris Wase, said on Wednesday that suspected Boko Haram members and other criminal elements were once discovered on the recruitment lists of the Nigerian Army and Police.
Wase made the disclosure during a special plenary session on the state of security in the country.
The lawmaker, who is a member of the All Progressives Congress representing Wase Federal Constituency in Plateau State, warned that the infiltration of security institutions by criminally minded individuals poses a major threat to national security.
He added that his claim could be confirmed by the former Chairman of the House Committee on Defence, now Chairman of the Committee on the Federal Capital Territory, Hon. Muktar Betara.
He said, “My brother and friend, the former Defence Committee Chairman, Hon. Betara, can attest to this. There were recruitment exercises where names of known Boko Haram members appeared on the shortlist. Armed robbers and other criminals were also found among those cleared for the Army and Police.”
The lawmaker also warned against reckless endorsements of candidates for military and police recruitment, stressing that only credible and trustworthy individuals should be recommended.
He revealed that he has lost a brother, cousin, and nephew to terrorist attacks. He added that the North Central region bears about 52 per cent of the country’s overall insecurity burden.
He recounted a distressing plea from one of his younger brothers, who begged to be relocated from their violence-stricken community. The lawmaker also urged the President to review the directive to withdraw policemen from VIPs.
While acknowledging the policy’s intent, he argued that clear categories must be defined to prevent exposing key officials to unnecessary danger.
