Shehu Buba, senator representing Bauchi South, has denied allegations linking him to bandit kingpins and sponsoring banditry in northern Nigeria.
The allegations, which have been circulating online, claim that some high-profile bandit leaders visited Buba’s residence and that he sponsored some of them for hajj.
In a statement issued on Sunday in Abuja, Buba said he had been subjected to propaganda, false narratives and manipulated videos since 2024.
The lawmaker said he had taken legal action against those behind the allegations in courts in Nigeria and Niamey, Niger Republic.
Buba said the campaign intensified after he became the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) governorship candidate in Bauchi state, with manipulated videos being recirculated.
“My decision to leave the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), under whose platform I am pursuing my gubernatorial aspiration, should be debated on policies, competence and vision—not on fabricated allegations,” the statement reads.
“It is deeply unfortunate when acts of compassion or legitimate security-related contacts are stripped of context and repackaged as evidence of wrongdoing.
“I welcome scrutiny, but scrutiny must be fair. I do not claim immunity from scrutiny. As a senator, a former chairman of the senate committee on national security and intelligence, currently chairing the senate committee on livestock and animal husbandry, and now a gubernatorial candidate, I recognise that my actions and associations will be examined. That is democracy.
“But scrutiny must be based on facts. There is a difference between investigation and fabrication, between criticism and blackmail, and between political opposition and deliberate character assassination.”
Buba said disinformation campaigns often rely on recycling old allegations, editing existing materials and attaching new captions before repeatedly circulating them as purported evidence.
The senator urged journalists and civil society organisations (CSOs) to fact-check the videos and reject what he described as attempts to mislead the public.
“I will continue to defend my name through lawful means. More importantly, I will continue the work that has defined my public life: serving my constituents, supporting those in need and contributing to the peace and security of our nation,” he said.
“The facts should speak louder than propaganda.”
Buba said he had generally avoided responding to every allegation against him, noting that public officials must be open to scrutiny while also exercising restraint, particularly on national security matters.
He said his previous role as chairman of the senate committee on national security and intelligence required discretion because publicly disclosing operational details, sources or sensitive interventions could jeopardise security efforts.
Buba said his two-year tenure as chairman of the committee involved legislative oversight, intelligence, security policy and engagement with communities affected by insecurity.
He said he advocated a combination of military operations and non-kinetic measures, including community engagement, dialogue, intelligence gathering, deradicalisation and confidence-building.
“Nigeria cannot defeat insecurity by military force alone. Sustainable security requires winning the trust of vulnerable communities, strengthening local intelligence networks and creating pathways for cooperation with legitimate authorities,” Buba said.
“Some of these interventions cannot responsibly be discussed in detail. Revealing identities of intermediaries or operational information could endanger patriotic citizens and undermine ongoing efforts.
“My silence on such matters should never be interpreted as an absence of service.”
