Senator Buba Fires Back at Accusers, Demands Evidence Over Bandit Links

​BAUCHI — The lawmaker representing Bauchi South Senatorial District, Senator Shehu Buba, has vehemently dismissed viral videos and fresh allegations linking him to notorious bandit kingpins, describing the claims as fabricated blackmail orchestrated by political opponents.

​Buba, who chairs the Senate Committee on Livestock and Animal Husbandry and is the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) governorship candidate for Bauchi State, broke his silence following a series of social media accusations. The latest controversy stems from an interview conducted by social media influencer D English Alhaji Media with a resident named Hassan, who alleged that politicians, including Buba, were aiding bandits and organizing specialized training in Abuja for associates of criminal kingpin Dogo Gide.

​The senator has faced similar scrutiny in the past. In September 2024, Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed petitioned President Bola Tinubu accusing Buba’s legislative aide of facilitating Hajj registration for a suspected Zamfara bandit. Reports in 2025 also accused the lawmaker of involvement in peace negotiations with terror kingpin Bello Turji during his tenure as Chairman of the Senate Committee on National Security and Intelligence.

​Denying all accusations, Buba explained that the viral footage circulating online had been maliciously doctored. According to a fact-check released by his camp, the clips spliced together unrelated footage of Kaduna-based Hajj returnees who visited his residence in 2023 with separate individuals showing passports.

​“It is deeply unfortunate when acts of compassion or legitimate security-related contacts are stripped of context and repackaged as evidence of wrongdoing,” Buba stated. He noted that his previous security responsibilities often required complex community engagements and non-kinetic approaches, which demand operational discretion.

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​The senator disclosed that his legal team has already initiated criminal complaints and cyberstalking petitions with the police, leading to the arrest of multiple suspects across Kano, Bauchi, and Abuja, while the primary accuser reportedly operates from the Niger Republic. Challenging his detractors, Buba urged anyone with credible evidence to present it to security agencies rather than hiding behind anonymous internet broadcasts.

​Meanwhile, former Minister of Youth and Sports Solomon Dalung has called on the Department of State Services (DSS) to clarify the status of its investigations, while urging the National Assembly to launch an independent probe so the lawmaker can be either publicly exonerated or held accountable.