SHEHU BUBA REJECTS BANDITRY ALLEGATIONS, CALLS VIRAL VIDEOS FABRICATED

Senator representing Bauchi South Senatorial District, Shehu Buba, has rejected fresh allegations linking him to banditry, describing the viral videos and claims circulating online as a deliberate campaign of disinformation and character assassination. Buba, who previously chaired the Senate Committee on National Security and Intelligence and currently heads the Senate Committee on Livestock and Animal Husbandry, said the allegations were false and should not be treated as established facts simply because they had gained attention on social media.

The controversy intensified after videos circulated online by a content creator identified as “D English Alhaji”, with claims that suspected bandit kingpins had visited the senator’s residence. Additional allegations were reportedly made by a resident identified as Hassan, who accused Buba of being among politicians allegedly supporting bandit activities in the region. Buba, however, strongly disputed the claims, insisting that the material being circulated had been manipulated and presented without the necessary context.

According to the senator, the videos being used as evidence against him actually combined unrelated footage. He explained that one of the clips showed Kaduna-based Hajj returnees who visited his residence in 2023, while another featured different individuals displaying passports. Buba said the differences between the people shown in the two clips, including the languages they spoke, demonstrated that the footage did not support the allegation that bandit leaders had visited him. He urged journalists, civil society organisations and members of the public to independently verify such claims before accepting them as evidence.

Buba also traced some of the allegations to events dating back to 2024, saying he had previously faced accusations after intervening over the killing of two charcoal sellers. He said his involvement was aimed at seeking justice for the victims and should not be interpreted as evidence of links with criminal groups. The senator further disclosed that he had petitioned the Nigeria Police Force over individuals allegedly involved in spreading the accusations and said five suspects were later arraigned before the Federal High Court in Abuja on charges including criminal conspiracy, cyberstalking, criminal defamation, advance-fee fraud and extortion.

The Bauchi lawmaker maintained that he remains open to legitimate scrutiny because of his position as a public official, but insisted that criticism and investigation must be based on verifiable facts rather than manipulated material or political attacks. Buba, who is also the Peoples Redemption Party governorship candidate in Bauchi State, said he would continue to defend his reputation through lawful channels while allowing the relevant authorities and courts to determine the facts surrounding the allegations.