Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday, Irabor described the claims as “impossible” and inconsistent with the military’s recruitment structure.
His comments follow a recent statement by Idris Wase, former deputy speaker of the house of representatives, who said a past recruitment exercise uncovered Boko Haram suspects, armed robbers and other criminals among shortlisted applicants for the military and police. Wase also claimed that former house committee on defence chair, Muktar Betara, could corroborate the revelation.
Irabor, however, insisted that such claims do not reflect the reality within the armed forces. “How can they be recruited? This does not exist,” he said.
The retired general, who previously served as theatre commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, force commander of the Multinational Joint Task Force, chief of defence training and operations, and later CDS, said his experience across commands shows that infiltration by terrorists is structurally impossible.
He added that even at the most basic level, recruitment requires strict verification at the local government level. “You can’t come into the military if those in your local government have not actually sanctioned you,” he said.
Irabor also clarified that Operation Safe Corridor — the federal government’s deradicalisation programme for low-risk Boko Haram detainees — reintegrates beneficiaries only into civilian communities, not the military.
While acknowledging that Nigeria’s security architecture faces challenges, he warned against interpreting these gaps as institutional failure, stressing that manpower, equipment and improved understanding of evolving threats remain key to strengthening counter-insurgency efforts.
