Senator Shehu Buba, representing Bauchi South Senatorial District, has denied fresh allegations linking him to banditry, describing viral videos and claims circulating online as false and part of a campaign to damage his reputation.
The controversy followed videos shared by a content creator known as D English Alhaji, who alleged that suspected bandit kingpins had visited Buba’s residence.
A man identified as Hassan also accused the senator of being among politicians allegedly supporting bandits and claimed that associates of wanted bandit leader Dogo Gide were brought to Abuja for specialized training through one of Buba’s aides.
Buba, in a statement titled “Setting the Record Straight: My Response to Fabricated Videos, False Allegations, and a Sustained Campaign of Disinformation,” rejected the claims and said the videos had been taken out of context.
He said the viral footage combined unrelated clips, including a 2023 video of Hajj returnees who visited his residence and another showing people displaying passports. He maintained that the footage did not show bandit kingpins visiting him.
The senator said allegations linking him to banditry had circulated since 2024, when he intervened after two charcoal sellers were reportedly killed by a militia group operating as hunters in Bauchi.
He said his intervention and subsequent demands for an investigation led to allegations against him, including a claim that he sponsored a suspected bandit for the 2024 Hajj. Buba denied the allegation and said he had invited security agencies to investigate.
Buba also said he had taken legal action against people allegedly involved in spreading defamatory material about him. Five suspects were arraigned before the Federal High Court in Abuja in October 2025 in a case involving alleged cyberstalking, criminal defamation, cybercrime, and extortion.
He further disclosed that he had filed a criminal complaint in Niger Republic against Hassan Saleh Hussein over alleged defamation and insults made through electronic communication.
Buba, who previously chaired the Senate Committee on National Security and Intelligence, said his approach to insecurity has included military operations as well as intelligence gathering, community engagement, and dialogue.
He said he remained open to scrutiny but urged journalists and the public to distinguish between verified evidence and unsubstantiated claims.
There is currently no publicly known court judgment establishing that Buba sponsored terrorism or banditry, although allegations and calls for investigation have continued to circulate.
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