On November 26, 2025, during a special plenary session of the House of Representatives on Nigeria’s worsening security situation, former Deputy Speaker Ahmed Idris Wase alleged that suspected Boko Haram members and other criminals, including armed robbers and gang members, had in the past been found on recruitment lists for the Nigerian Army and Police.

Representing Wase Federal Constituency in Plateau State and speaking as leader of the North Central Caucus, he said such infiltration exposes deep flaws in recruitment procedures, allowing dangerous individuals to enter key security institutions and weaken counterinsurgency efforts.

He cited former House Committee on Defence Chairman Muktar Betara as a witness, recalling that “there were moments in time when, in the process of recruitment, Boko Haram were found in the list.”

Speaking emotionally and referencing personal losses to terrorism, Wase urged politicians to endorse only candidates with “good character and integrity.”

The allegation has triggered public concern and demands for investigation, with widespread media coverage and debates on X amplifying calls for reforms in security recruitment.

As of November 27, 2025, neither the Nigerian military nor the police have issued a denial, leaving the claim unchallenged but in need of deeper examination.

What the evidence shows

Independent reports from the plenary session confirm that Wase made the statement during broader deliberations on insecurity, which included presentations from the North West, North East, and South South caucuses.

There has been no official response from Betara or the security agencies, although the session’s focus on a coordinated security strategy aligns with Wase’s call for stricter political vetting.

While the specific incidents Wase referenced have not been confirmed through declassified documents or new investigations, historical evidence strongly supports the possibility of attempts by Boko Haram members to infiltrate Nigeria’s security forces.

In 2012, authorities in Maiduguri, Borno State, detained 11 soldiers suspected of Boko Haram links, with investigations showing some had enlisted under false identities.

In 2014, the Army court-martialed several personnel over alleged ties, including passing information to insurgents.

Former Adamawa Governor Murtala Nyako even accused the federal government of allowing sympathizers into military formations.

Further examples followed. In September 2016, the Department of State Services arrested two suspected Boko Haram operatives attempting to join the Army as recruits.

In April 2024, a repented Boko Haram member, who had been reintegrated and enlisted into the Army, was accused of killing a woman in Enugu barracks. Although the military issued a statement clarifying aspects of the case, it exposed vulnerabilities within reintegration and recruitment systems.

The Nigeria Police Force has faced similar risks, including 2014 reports of officers selling weapons to Boko Haram associates. These patterns, often tied to mass recruitment exercises in conflict-prone areas and weak background checks, reinforce Wase’s concerns and highlight persistent institutional gaps.

Why it matters

If Boko Haram suspects infiltrate the Army or Police, the consequences could be devastating. Insurgents could gain access to intelligence, undermine operations, and launch insider attacks that prolong Nigeria’s 15-year conflict, which has claimed more than 35,000 lives and displaced millions.

Past incidents, such as the 2018 Metele base attack where over 100 soldiers were killed amid suspicions of internal leaks, show how compromised recruitment can contribute to ambushes, improvised explosive device placements, and strategic failures.

Infiltration also creates distrust among personnel, forces repeated internal purges, lowers morale, and weakens public confidence in the nation’s security institutions. This further complicates the 52 percent insecurity burden Wase attributed to the North Central region.

What should be done

Nigeria needs immediate and long-term reforms to close these vulnerabilities. Recruitment processes should adopt independent, technology-driven verification systems, including biometric databases and AI-supported screening, to limit political interference.

Mandatory psychological tests and polygraph assessments should be introduced to verify loyalty and identity. A dedicated counterintelligence unit is necessary to continually monitor personnel for insider threats.

Lawmakers should initiate a detailed investigation through the House Defence Committee to verify Wase’s claims, while the executive branch must reassess reintegration programs for former insurgents. Addressing deeper structural issues, such as economic deprivation and environmental pressures, raised by North West Caucus leader Sada Soli. will be essential for reducing extremist recruitment over time.

Verdict

Plausible and urgently demanding investigation. Wase’s allegation, although awaiting official confirmation of specific incidents, is reinforced by more than a decade of documented infiltration cases that reveal longstanding recruitment weaknesses in Nigeria’s security system.

Without prompt investigations and reforms, such breaches risk worsening the insurgency. Strengthening verification and accountability is necessary to protect Nigeria’s defence architecture.

In response to escalating insecurity across Nigeria, Southern governors have reinforced their demand for the creation of state police, describing the reform as urgent and “non-negotiable.”

At a recent meeting in Ogun State, the Southern Governors’ Forum, alongside traditional rulers, also approved the establishment of a Zonal Security Fund aimed at enhancing regional security coordination.

The meeting, held at the residence of Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun in Iperu, brought together governors from the South-West, South-East, and South-South, as well as key traditional rulers including the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, the Obi of Obinugwu, Eze C. I. Ilomuanya, and the Dein of Agbor, Benjamin Ikenchukwu Keagborekuzi.

Addressing the forum, the governors reaffirmed their commitment to national unity, regional cooperation, and the protection of lives and property across the Southern states.

They stressed the importance of decentralised policing, noting that community-based and regional security outfits have highlighted the need for state-level police forces.

The communiqué issued at the end of the meeting outlined several measures to strengthen security across the region. These include the creation of a Zonal Security Fund to finance joint operations and capacity-building initiatives, the establishment of a unified intelligence-sharing framework, and monthly coordination meetings among state security advisers.

The governors also emphasized support for local security groups, hunter associations, and community surveillance units through improved logistics and equipment.

“The forum reiterates its long-standing demand for State Police, emphasizing that community-based and regional outfits have proven the need for decentralised policing,” the communiqué stated.

It further called on states to collaborate with traditional rulers and the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to regulate land allocation and develop a unified resident identification system to prevent security risks.

The Southern governors also condemned illegal mining and its environmental and security consequences, pledging joint action with environmental agencies and traditional councils to curb the practice.

The forum stressed the role of traditional institutions in intelligence gathering and grassroots security, urging their formal integration into state security councils.

The renewed push for state police comes amid a surge in violent crimes nationwide, including mass abductions, targeted attacks on communities, and rising banditry.

Between July 2024 and June 2025, Nigeria recorded 4,722 abductions and 762 deaths, according to SBM Intelligence. Recent incidents include the abduction of 303 students and 12 teachers from St. Mary’s Catholic School in Niger State and the killing of police officers in Bauchi State.

Experts warn that while the creation of state police could improve responsiveness to security threats, success depends on adequate funding, training, and political will at both federal and state levels. Public affairs analyst Nduka Odo noted that poorly resourced or politically neglected state police units would likely replicate the shortcomings of the existing federal system.

Meanwhile, governors in the South-West, under the Southwest Governors’ Forum, have also taken steps to strengthen regional security.

At a meeting in Ibadan, Oyo State, the governors approved the creation of a South-West Security Fund, managed through the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Commission. They also agreed to a digital intelligence-sharing platform for Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo, and Ekiti states to enable real-time alerts, data exchange, and coordinated responses to threats.

South-West governors praised federal security interventions and recent rescue operations in the North, including the release of abducted students in Kwara and Niger states.

They urged the federal government to deploy more forest guards to prevent criminal groups from using forest reserves as hideouts.

The forum concluded with a call for unity, vigilance, and continued collaboration among states, traditional institutions, and federal authorities to preserve peace and promote sustainable development in Southern Nigeria.

In a related development, the Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures emphasized the need for a national peace framework to address the country’s growing security challenges, urging cooperation across political, ethnic, and religious divides.

With state police now framed as a central pillar of Southern governors’ security strategy, leaders across the region are signaling that decentralised policing and strengthened regional coordination are critical to safeguarding communities and restoring public confidence in Nigeria’s security architecture.

The Nigerian Senate, on Thursday, approved President Bola Tinubu’s nomination of Mrs. Ayo Omidiran as Chairman of the Federal Character Commission, signaling a notable change in the leadership of the agency that ensures fair representation across federal institutions.

Omidiran, who previously served as a lawmaker in Osun State, was confirmed alongside Peter Eze from Enugu State and 36 other nominees for Federal Commissioner positions, following a screening report by the Senate Committee on Federal Character and Inter-Governmental Affairs.

The confirmation took place during a plenary session led by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

Senator Allwell Onyesoh (PDP, Rivers East), chairman of the committee, stated that all nominees appeared before the panel on Tuesday and met the qualifications and competence required for their respective roles.

He noted, “The committee did not receive any criminal complaints against any of the nominees. They submitted all required documents and demonstrated capacity for the roles they were nominated for.”

Onyesoh added that the vetting process reviewed nominees’ curriculum vitae, Code of Conduct clearance certificates, police and DSS reports, and other eligibility documents, alongside individual presentations and an in-depth question-and-answer session.

He emphasized that nominees from all 36 states and the FCT satisfied constitutional requirements, describing them as “eminently qualified.”

The committee also highlighted Eze’s performance during the screening, noting his deep understanding of the FCC’s mandate and the reforms needed to enhance the agency’s effectiveness.

“His appointment will strengthen the capacity of the Federal Character Commission to review outdated statutes and harmonise them with current realities,” Onyesoh said.

Earlier, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele moved for the chamber to dissolve into the Committee of the Whole for detailed examination of the nominees.

Deputy Minority Leader Senator Olalere Oyewumi supported the motion, stating, “From their résumés, they have held different positions both locally and internationally. I thank Mr President for finding them worthy.”

After a state-by-state review, the Committee of the Whole adopted the report without objections and returned to plenary, where Akpabio put the nominations to a voice vote, which passed unanimously.

Eze’s nomination had previously been made public by presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga.

An economist and public administrator from Aji in Igbo-Eze North LGA of Enugu State, Eze currently serves as Executive Assistant to Senator Orji Uzor Kalu. He holds a B.Sc. in Economics from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and a Master’s in Customs Management from the University of International Business and Economics (UIBE), Beijing.

The other 36 nominees confirmed on Thursday include: Lawal Ya’u Roni (Jigawa); Abubakar Bunu (Kebbi); Eludayo Eluyemi (Osun); Abdulwasiu Bawalla (Lagos); Obinna Oriaku (Abia); Bema Madayi (Adamawa); Dora Ebong (Akwa Ibom); Nnoli Gloria (Anambra); Babangida Gwana (Bauchi); Sir Tonye Okio (Bayelsa); Aligba Tarkende (Benue); Modu Mustapha (Borno); Dr. Stella Ekpo (Cross River); Ederin Idisi (Delta); and Nwokpor Nduka (Ebonyi).

The list also includes: Victor Edoror (Edo); Sola Fokanle (Ekiti); Ibrahim Mairiga (Gombe); Jerry Alagbaoso (Imo); Ruth Jumai Ango (Kaduna); Muhammad Nayya (Kano); Anas Isah (Katsina); Bello Idris Eneye (Kogi); Dr. Ibrahim Abdullahi (Kwara); Isah Jibrin (Niger); Ajimudu Bola (Ondo); Prince Ayodeji Aleshinloye (Oyo); Pam Bolman (Plateau); Aaron Chukwuemeka (Rivers); Aminu Tambar (Sokoto); Bobboi Kaigama (Taraba); Jibir Maigari (Yobe); Sani Garba (Zamfara); and Solomon Ayuba Dagami (FCT).

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Wednesday announced a nationwide security emergency following a surge of violent attacks across several regions.

In a statement, he announced major security directives, saying, “Today, in view of the emerging security situation, I have decided to declare a nationwide security emergency and order additional recruitment into the Armed Forces.”

Under the new measures, both the military and police will expand their personnel, with Tinubu confirming, “The police will recruit an additional 20,000 officers, bringing the total to 50,000.” He also authorised the use of NYSC camps as temporary police training centres and ordered rapid retraining for officers withdrawn from VIP duties to improve deployment to high-risk areas.

Tinubu empowered the DSS to operationalise its forest security structure, stating, “The DSS also has my authority to immediately deploy all the forest guards already trained to flush out the terrorists and bandits lurking in our forests.”

He added firmly, “There will be no more hiding places for agents of evil.”
The President described the situation as “a national emergency” and urged citizens to support government efforts: “The times require all hands on deck. As Nigerians, we should all get involved in securing our nation.”

He commended recent security successes, assured ongoing rescue operations, and encouraged herders to embrace ranching, noting, “I call on all herder associations to take advantage of it, end open grazing and surrender illegal weapons. Ranching is now the path forward.”

Tinubu also issued a firm warning to perpetrators of violence: “Those who want to test our resolve should never mistake our restraint for weakness.” He concluded by calling for unity and vigilance, saying, “I urge you not to give in to fear and never succumb to despair… We are in this fight together, and together we shall win.”

What Is A Security Emergency?

A security emergency is a comprehensive and aggressive response to criminals and threats across the country.

The government establishes extraordinary security measures to confront existential threats to public safety, deploying expanded military and police resources, accelerating recruitment, and authorising heightened operations in troubled zones.

The declaration was made due to the worsening security situation in Nigeria, which requires urgent and decisive action. The mandate of security agencies is to protect lives and property with full government backing.

What It Means?

The nationwide security emergency triggers emergency-level responses: the military, police, and intelligence agencies are authorised to expand recruitment and deploy additional forces, especially to security-challenged areas.

For example, the national police force was ordered to recruit an extra 20,000 officers, bringing the total targeted recruitment up to 50,000.

Intelligence and forest-guard units are being activated or strengthened to clear terrorist hideouts, particularly in rural or forested regions.

What The Law Says About Emergency In Nigeria

Under Section 305(3), the President may proclaim a state of emergency if certain conditions exist, including an actual or imminent breakdown of public order and safety, a threat to national security, war or insurrection, or other public dangers threatening the federation’s existence.

The declared emergency can initially last up to six months, and extensions, if any must follow constitutional procedures.

The goal is to restore public order, protect lives and property, and reinforce state capacity to respond to widespread insecurity by deploying “more boots on the ground” and mobilising all security agencies for coordinated action.

In a moment of national relief, all 24 schoolgirls abducted from a boarding school in Kebbi State last week have been safely released, President Bola Tinubu announced on Tuesday.

The students, kidnapped amid rising bandit attacks in the region, returned home unharmed. Yet uncertainty persists over what truly led to their freedom.

The abduction took place on November 17 at Government Girls Comprehensive Senior Secondary School in Maga, Danko/Wasagu Local Government Area.

Armed attackers stormed the school shortly after a military team withdrew, killing the vice principal and injuring a security guard before escaping with 25 students. One student fled during the chaos, leaving 24 in captivity for more than a week.

Government Celebrates Rescue, But Questions Linger

President Tinubu praised the release as the result of a swift and coordinated operation by security agencies, led by the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle.

Through his Special Adviser, Bayo Onanuga, the president expressed deep relief, saying, “I am relieved that all the 24 girls have been accounted for.” He ordered intensified efforts to rescue other captives across the country and promised to deploy more troops to rural communities vulnerable to attacks.

Matawalle, acting on Tinubu’s instructions, relocated to Kebbi to oversee the operation and later confirmed that a tactical team successfully secured the girls’ freedom.

The federal government also pointed to non-kinetic strategies, including coordination between the Office of the National Security Adviser and the Department of State Services, as part of the process, though specific details were withheld for operational reasons.

The situation sparked a series of similar incidents. In Eruku, Kwara State, gunmen kidnapped 38 worshippers from a church vigil on November 20; all were later freed after security pressure.

In Niger State, more than 300 pupils and teachers were taken from St. Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri, Agwara LGA, though 50 of the missing children were later found at home, indicating some may have fled during the attack rather than being captured.

As insecurity escalated, Tinubu ordered the Nigerian Air Force to begin continuous aerial surveillance over forested zones in Kebbi, Kwara, and Niger states, with ground troops receiving real-time intelligence.

Communities were urged to promptly report suspicious movements. Kebbi State Governor Nasir Idris demanded a full military investigation into why troops withdrew shortly before the attack, describing it as “clear sabotage.”

Bandit Video Sparks Public Outrage and Doubts Over Rescue Claims

Amid nationwide celebration, a disturbing propaganda video released by the kidnappers raised doubts about the official account. In the video, a gunman questions the girls about any overhead military jets which none were reported and boasts that authorities were unable to rescue them by force.

He claims their release came through negotiations with “leaders,” adding, “Your government has failed,” before permitting the girls to leave. The students said they were not mistreated, starved, or assaulted during captivity.

The footage supported local reports suggesting a negotiated release rather than a tactical rescue, intensifying public debate over the government’s approach to dealing with bandit groups. Critics argue that negotiations may empower criminal networks and encourage further abductions.

Human rights advocates and northern leaders renewed demands for better school security, warning that banditry in the North-West continues to uproot communities and weaken confidence in state protection.

Analysts note that while the girls’ safe return is a relief, the circumstances raise urgent questions about long-term solutions to insecurity.

As investigations continue, the Tinubu administration faces growing pressure to clarify what happened and to develop stronger strategies against the armed groups exploiting Nigeria’s remote regions.