Bauchi Senator, Shehu Buba, Rejects Banditry Allegations, Says Viral Videos Fabricated

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Senator Shehu Buba, who represents Bauchi South Senatorial District, has rejected fresh allegations that he has links with bandit groups, describing the claims and videos circulating on social media as false and part of an alleged campaign against his reputation.

Buba, a former Chairman of the Senate Committee on National Security and Intelligence, has faced allegations of connections with suspected bandits since 2024. He has repeatedly denied the allegations.

The latest controversy followed videos shared by a content creator identified as ‘D English Alhaji’, who claimed that suspected bandit leaders had visited the senator’s residence.

The controversy was further fueled by comments from a resident identified as Hassan, who accused Buba of being among politicians allegedly supporting bandits in the area.

Hassan also claimed that persons associated with the wanted bandit kingpin, Dogo Gide, were brought to Abuja for specialised training through an aide of the senator.

However, Buba rejected the claims in a statement issued on Sunday with the title, “Setting the Record Straight: My Response to Fabricated Videos, False Allegations and a Sustained Campaign of Disinformation.”

The senator, who currently chairs the Senate Committee on Livestock and Animal Husbandry and is seeking the Bauchi governorship ticket of the Peoples Redemption Party, said he had previously chosen not to respond because of the sensitive nature of his former security-related responsibilities.

He stressed that his decision to remain silent should not be taken as an inability to defend himself.

He said, “For much of my public life, I have resisted the temptation to respond to every allegation, criticism or provocation directed at me. Citizens have a legitimate right to scrutinise those entrusted with public responsibility, and public officials must be prepared to account for their conduct.

“My election as senator representing Bauchi South Senatorial District — and particularly my responsibility as chairman of the Senate Committee on National Security and Intelligence — reinforced the need for restraint. National security demands discretion.

“Operational successes cannot always be publicised without jeopardising ongoing efforts, exposing sources or endangering individuals and communities involved in sensitive interventions.”

Buba traced the allegations against him to an incident on September 15, 2024, involving Umar Shayi, whom he said led a militia group said to be operating as hunters for the Bauchi State Agency for Vigilante and Youth Empowerment.

He said two charcoal sellers were allegedly killed during the incident.

According to Buba, he visited the victims’ families after the incident and demanded justice. He said his intervention later became the basis for claims that he was connected to banditry.

“This campaign dates back to September 15, 2024, when Umar Shayi led a militia group purported to be hunters working for the Bauchi State Agency for Vigilante and Youth Empowerment. The group reportedly killed two charcoal sellers who were conducting their lawful business.

“As the elected senator representing the district, I visited the families of the deceased to condole with them and called on the relevant authorities to ensure justice is served. I also vowed to pursue lawful action on behalf of both the deceased and the injured victims.

“I condemned the killings and urged the government to institute safeguards against abuses by those entrusted with protecting citizens,” he said.

The senator alleged that Abubakar Bununu, Bauchi State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, later publicly associated him with banditry after his intervention.

He also referred to an earlier allegation that he sponsored a suspected bandit leader to attend the 2024 Hajj. Buba said he denied the claim and asked security agencies to investigate it.

The lawmaker said, “Following my intervention, the Bauchi State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Abubakar Bununu, publicly linked my name to banditry — an allegation I rejected as false and unsupported by evidence.

“Subsequently, Governor Bala Mohammed petitioned President Bola Tinubu that I sponsored a ‘bandit kingpin’ to perform the 2024 Hajj through an aide named Yahaya Ibrahim.

“I categorically denied these allegations. I stated that I had no aide by the name cited and invited security agencies to investigate.”

Buba said his support for pilgrims, educational initiatives, medical assistance and empowerment programmes had been based on recommendations from community and religious leaders.

He added that he instituted a defamation case, CV/413/2024, at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory over the allegations.

Senator Explains Viral Videos

Buba also gave an account of how some of the photographs and videos now circulating online originated.

He said a young man named Hassan Husseini was introduced to him in 2024 as an orphan who needed educational support.

According to the senator, he enrolled Husseini in a private college and an Islamic school in Kaduna and also gave him a bicycle.

He said Husseini later abandoned his studies and asked for financial assistance to start a car dealership. Buba said he rejected the request and advised him to return to school.

“I later discovered that, while under my care, he had recorded photographs and videos of visitors to my residence. These materials later formed the basis of allegations circulated on social media,” Buba said.

He alleged that some people who circulated the materials later demanded money from him.

The senator said he petitioned the Nigeria Police Force on September 9, 2025, which resulted in the arrest and investigation of several suspects.

According to him, five suspects were arraigned before Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia of the Federal High Court in Abuja on October 30, 2025.

“After the videos circulated and those sharing the videos and photos demanded money as extortion, I petitioned the Nigeria Police Force on September 9, 2025. Several individuals were arrested and investigated.

“On October 30, 2025, five suspects were arraigned before Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia of the Federal High Court, Abuja, in Charge No. FHC/ABJ/CR/526/2025, on charges including criminal conspiracy, cyberstalking, criminal defamation, advance-fee fraud and extortion.

“The matter is before a competent court, and I will refrain from comments that could prejudice the proceedings. The next hearing is scheduled for September 29, 2026,” he said.

On the latest videos, Buba said the footage had been presented falsely as proof that bandit leaders visited his residence.

He said the videos actually contained unrelated footage, including images of Hajj returnees who visited his residence in 2023.