Banditry Allegations Rock Bauchi Senator As Shehu Buba Breaks Silence

Senator representing Bauchi South, Shehu Buba, has denied fresh allegations linking him to banditry, describing the claims as an attempt by political opponents to damage his reputation.

Buba, a former Chairman of the Senate Committee on National Security and Intelligence, said he had petitioned the Inspector-General of Police over the allegations and claimed that four suspects had been arrested in connection with the matter.

According to Bush Radio Academy, the latest controversy followed allegations made by a resident identified as Hassan during an interview with social media platform D English Alhaji Media. Hassan reportedly alleged that politicians associated with Buba supported bandits in the area and claimed that individuals linked to notorious bandit leader Dogo Gide were taken to Abuja for specialised training allegedly facilitated by one of the senator’s aides.

Responding to the allegations in an interview published by Albarka Radio in Bauchi, Buba dismissed the claims as part of a campaign designed to undermine him. He also alleged that Hassan, whom he described as the principal suspect, had fled to Niger Republic and continued making statements online with financial support from his political opponents.

Buba maintained that those behind the allegations would not succeed in preventing his political progress, insisting that the accusations were motivated by political interests.

Meanwhile, the Bauchi State Police Command said it had not received any formal complaint regarding the latest allegations and therefore could not take an official position on the matter.

The command’s spokesperson, Nafiu Habib, said the issue had not been formally brought before the state police authorities.

A businessman and political associate of the senator, Mukhtar Gwarzo, has nevertheless called on security agencies and relevant authorities to thoroughly investigate the allegations.

Gwarzo, Managing Director of Nixon Energy and Nixon Telecoms, described the accusations as serious matters that should be subjected to proper investigation because of their potential implications for national security.

He said the facts surrounding the allegations should be established without fear or favour, while stressing that his more than two-decade relationship with Buba had given him a different impression of the senator’s character.

Gwarzo argued that the allegations were inconsistent with the person he claimed to know, particularly given Buba’s previous role overseeing national security and intelligence matters in the Senate.

However, he also maintained that the senator should not be exempted from scrutiny, urging security agencies and relevant institutions to investigate the matter fully.

The latest allegations have also revived attention around an earlier controversy involving Buba.

According to reports, Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed wrote President Bola Tinubu in September 2024 concerning allegations surrounding the registration and funding of two individuals, Abubakar Idris and Zainab Gado, for the 2024 Hajj.

The governor’s petition reportedly alleged that Idris was suspected of involvement in banditry and kidnapping activities in Zamfara State and raised questions over his registration process.

The Department of State Services was subsequently reported to have visited the Bauchi State Muslims Pilgrims Welfare Board during the 2024 Hajj exercise and requested the e-passports of the two individuals.

While Gado’s passport had reportedly already been released and she travelled for the pilgrimage, Idris’ passport was handed over to the DSS, which subsequently detained him, according to the account.

Records cited in the earlier allegations reportedly indicated that both individuals were registered through Yahaya Ibrahim, described as a senior legislative aide to Senator Buba.

The governor’s petition had questioned the circumstances surrounding the registrations and alleged possible links between the senator’s aide and individuals suspected of criminal activities.

The DSS was previously reported to have investigated aspects of the allegations. However, when contacted over the status of the matter, a spokesperson for the agency declined to disclose the outcome, stating that its findings would be made public at the appropriate time.

With the latest accusations now generating renewed attention, Senator Buba has continued to deny any connection to banditry, while calls grow for security agencies to establish the facts surrounding the allegations.