A former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ahmed Idris Wase, says Boko Haram suspects and other criminals were once listed for recruitment into the Nigerian Army and Police.
Wase made the claim during an interview on Channels Television, where he spoke about the country’s security challenges and the need for stronger screening measures.
According to him, his concern is based on personal experience. He recalled how his brother and cousin were killed, prompting him to check the recruitment records of security agencies at the time.
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Wase said: “Do you know how many Boko Haram we have arrested on the recruitment list into the Army? I am a living witness. Even before I became the Deputy Speaker, I had the cause to investigate a particular issue because I lost a brother and a cousin.
It will shock you to know the number of people we arrested that disguised as if they were their relations to join the Army.” He added that their findings also revealed instances where known armed robbers managed to get cleared during screening.
The former Deputy Speaker said such lapses are dangerous for the country, stressing that proper background checks must be taken seriously to prevent criminals from infiltrating security formations.