A former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Idris Wase yesterday alleged that there were times when members of the Boko Haram insurgent and armed robbers found their way into the military during recruitment exercises.
Wase made the allegation while speaking on behalf of the North Central caucus of the House of Representatives during a debate on the security situation in the country.
Against this background, he said the issue of sabotage within the security sector must be properly addressed through a comprehensive review of the recruitment of personnel into the various security services.
Wase said there were times when members of the Boko Haram insurgent and armed robbers found their way into the military.
He stated: “There were moments in time when, in the process of recruitment, Boko Haram were found in the list. Other criminals, armed robbers, and gangs were found in the list of the Nigerian army and police.
“There has to be a thorough way of ensuring that when we are recruiting, those of us who are politicians are recommending people of good character and integrity. That’s the only way we can solve this problem. And I want to also allude to the fact that, maybe, bring one example.
“The former SGF was in an airport and saw somebody that he knew as an armed robber wearing a Nigerian uniform. He ordered his arrest immediately. This is a part of the problem that we are being faced with.
“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 the way of our recruitment. Yes, as politicians, it’s good to recommend.”
Wase also called for a review of the recent presidential order withdrawing police men from VIPs across the country.
He was of the opinion that there should be a categorisation of those who can benefit from police escorts.
Wase described the North Central as the main area where 52% of the insecurity and insurgency in this country is taking place.
Wase added: “Our people are dying, our people have been displaced, both those in the military and those who are in the armed forces and those at home.
“I want to say that there is every need for us to review what is actually taking place. Today, Nigeria takes 52 per cent of the criminality in terms of insurgency and whatever within the West African region, and like I did mention, more than 50 per cent of it is within the North Central of Nigeria.
“What is happening has to do a lot with criminality, and that is why I disagree with those who are bringing religious inclination into it. In every one of these enclaves, you find Muslims, you find Christians, you find pagans. I know that people are dying and people are being killed.
“If you go to Wase, the majority of the people that are being killed are Muslims. How do you define that? Native Muslims? If you go to Bokkos, maybe the most number of people that have been killed are Christians. You define that as genocide. I watched a programme yesterday, and I saw the person on Channels TV insisting that this has to do with the genocide of Christians, and I said no.
“It just has to do with criminality, and we must brand it as criminality. Otherwise, that division of religion will continue to affect us, and before we know it, we cannot tackle and deal with the problem effectively.”
Wase appealed to the President to withdraw the order withdrawing the police escort.
According to him, This is one other issue that people are saying, withdrawing police from VIPs. It’s not about the VIPs. When you give criminals police to guard them, this is where I thought we should focus.
“I want to appeal that there is a need to review that order. It’s a good order, but the categorisation has to be spelled out because before you know it, this house will again come back, faced with the same problem of the kidnapping, and whatever.”