On Wednesday, November 26, 2025, the Nigerian House of Representatives was rocked by a stark revelation from former Deputy Speaker Ahmed Idris Wase. Addressing a special plenary session convened to tackle Nigeria’s deepening security crisis, Wase disclosed that suspected Boko Haram operatives and other criminals had, at one point, appeared on the official recruitment lists for both the Nigerian Army and Police. The claim, corroborated by former Chairman of the House Committee on Defence, Muktar Betara, sent shockwaves through the chamber and underscored the scale of institutional breaches undermining the nation’s fight against terror.
Wase, who represents Wase Federal Constituency in Plateau State under the All Progressives Congress banner, did not mince words. “My brother, former chairman of defense, and my very good friend, Betara, will bear with me that we have moments in when in the process of recruitment, we found in the list names of criminals. Boko Haram members were found in the list of Army,” he said, as reported by Daily Post. He stressed that these lapses in recruitment procedures have allowed individuals with criminal backgrounds to infiltrate Nigeria’s critical security institutions.
The former Deputy Speaker’s personal connection to the crisis was palpable. He revealed that he had lost a brother, cousin, and nephew to terrorist attacks, a grim reminder of the human cost behind the headlines. The violence has struck so close to home that one of his younger brothers begged to be relocated from their embattled community, fearing for his life. “Insecurity has reached such a level that even my surviving younger brother pleaded for help to be relocated from our community,” Wase recounted, his voice heavy with emotion.
Wase’s warning was unequivocal: the infiltration of security agencies by criminal elements is a direct threat to national safety. He called on politicians, who often play a role in recommending candidates for military and police service, to exercise greater caution. “There has to be a thorough way of ensuring that when we are recruiting, those of us who are politicians should recommend people of good character and integrity. That’s the only way we can solve this problem,” he argued. “You find a criminal in the system, and before you know it, whatever you do, you cannot have the problem resolved. So we must change the system and way of our recruitment.”
The numbers paint a harrowing picture. According to Wase, kidnapping has become so routine that roughly N5 billion was paid in ransom in a single year. The toll of Boko Haram-related violence is even more staggering, with over 30,000 lives lost since the insurgency began its rampage across the country’s northeast. He noted that the North Central region, which he represents, bears about 52 percent of Nigeria’s insecurity burden—a statistic that highlights the disproportionate suffering endured by certain areas.
The session quickly became a forum for lawmakers from across the political spectrum to air their frustrations and propose solutions. Sada Soli, speaking for the North-West caucus, described the region’s insecurity as “complex and layered,” driven not just by criminality but by weak governance, environmental pressures, and worsening poverty. “Force alone will not end the crisis,” Soli warned, advocating for reforms in governance and land-use systems as crucial components of any lasting solution.
On behalf of the North-East, Muktar Betara echoed the sense of urgency. He called the region “ground zero of terrorism, insurgency and recurring communal violence,” recalling the horrors of the 2015 Baga massacre and a string of bomb attacks that have left both civilians and security personnel dead. “Our challenges are massive, but with coordinated action, commitment and sound strategy, we can restore confidence and stop the relentless spread of violence,” Betara said, according to Daily Post.
Other lawmakers were not shy about pointing fingers. Solomon Bob, a South-South senator from Rivers State, laid the blame squarely at the feet of Nigeria’s leaders. “Since 1999, what we have seen is leadership failure. Governments have chosen to placate terrorists, negotiating with killers instead of enforcing the law,” he charged. Bob argued that the persistent tendency to downplay terrorism as mere banditry has only fueled the crisis, allowing armed groups to operate with impunity.
The impact of insecurity on women and children was brought to the fore by Kafilat Ogbara, Chairman of the House Committee on Women Affairs. She cited recent mass abductions in Papiri and Kamba as emblematic of a wider breach of the state’s core duty to protect its citizens. “These are not just security failures; they represent a breach of the state’s core obligation to safeguard lives and property,” Ogbara lamented. Her words struck a chord with many in the chamber, highlighting the gendered toll of Nigeria’s security breakdown.
Wase also addressed the controversial presidential directive to withdraw police officers from VIP protection duties. While he acknowledged the rationale behind the policy, he urged the government to clearly define which officials should remain under protection to avoid exposing key figures to unnecessary risk. This, he argued, was just one of many policy areas in need of urgent review as lawmakers grapple with the scale and complexity of Nigeria’s security woes.
Underlying all these testimonies was a sense of frustration at the lack of progress. Wase suggested that part of the reason Nigeria’s security crisis endures is that certain individuals profit from the disorder, allowing criminal groups to move in convoys and operate unchecked. He also decried the politicisation of indigeneship and citizenship as a significant source of national division, calling for constitutional reforms to address these issues and foster greater unity.
Despite the gravity of the situation, there were calls for hope and coordinated action. Lawmakers from different regions agreed that the crisis demands more than a purely military response. Instead, they advocated for a comprehensive strategy that includes reforms in recruitment, governance, economic development, and community engagement. As Sada Soli put it, “Lasting peace depends on rebuilding trust in government, reforming land and livestock systems, and ensuring that communities help shape solutions.”
The session ended with a renewed sense of urgency. Wase, Betara, and their colleagues urged the legislature to adopt immediate, coordinated action to stem the tide of violence. The message was clear: Nigeria’s security crisis is graver than widely perceived, and only a united, multi-faceted approach can hope to restore peace and stability to the troubled nation.
As the House adjourned, the weight of the day’s revelations lingered in the air—a stark reminder that the fight for Nigeria’s security will require honesty, integrity, and a willingness to confront uncomfortable truths.
