Senator Shehu Buba, representing Bauchi South Senatorial District, has rejected allegations that he supports or facilitates banditry in northern Nigeria, describing his relationship with the man behind the claims as one centred initially on helping an orphan obtain an education.
Buba, who is also the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) governorship candidate for Bauchi State in the 2027 election, addressed the allegations in an interview with Albarka Radio in Bauchi.
The controversy followed accusations by a man identified as Hassan, who reportedly named the senator and other politicians as alleged supporters of criminal groups operating in the North.
Hassan made the allegations during an interview with social media influencer D English Alhaji Media (@DEnglishalhaji), according to SaharaReporters.
He further alleged that associates of wanted bandit kingpin Dogo Gide were brought to Abuja for specialised training through the intervention of an aide to Buba at the National Assembly.
Buba denied the allegations and instead recounted how he had previously assisted Hassan, whom he said was introduced to him as an orphan in need of support to continue his education.
According to the senator, he connected Hassan with a cleric, Musa Asadussunnah, who helped secure admission for him into both Islamic and conventional schools.
Buba said he also gave Hassan a bicycle to make commuting to school easier.
The senator, however, said Hassan later abandoned his education despite his advice to complete his studies.
“After a short time, he told us that he was leaving school for the car dealership business, which I rejected, insisting that he must finish school before anything else,” Buba said.
He said he subsequently learnt that Hassan had left the school despite his intervention.
Buba also accused Hassan of using his access to the senator’s residence to secretly obtain photographs and videos of visitors, which he allegedly passed to political opponents for use in damaging his reputation.
The senator said he had reported the matter to the Inspector-General of Police and that investigations had resulted in the arrest of four people.
According to him, two of the suspects were arrested in Kano, while one each was apprehended in Bauchi and Abuja. He added that court proceedings had commenced.
Buba said Hassan, whom he described as the main suspect, had fled to Niger Republic, where he allegedly continued making live broadcasts on social media.
The senator claimed the broadcasts were being financed by political opponents seeking to undermine his political career.
“Those sponsoring him cannot change destiny; if God says I will be, nobody can stop me by using social media propaganda against me,” he said.
Buba, a former chairman of the Senate Committee on National Security and Intelligence, also highlighted his involvement in efforts to address banditry through non-kinetic measures.
He said he had worked with security officials and Islamic scholars as part of efforts to explore dialogue and other alternatives to military action in tackling insecurity.
His team, which reportedly included Asadussunnah, held engagements with several bandit leaders, including wanted kingpin Bello Turji, as part of attempts to negotiate a peace arrangement.
The non-kinetic approach to insecurity seeks to tackle the social, economic and other underlying factors that fuel armed violence, complementing conventional military operations such as airstrikes, raids and ground offensives.
Buba maintained that his involvement in such initiatives was aimed at finding ways to reduce violence and restore stability, rather than supporting criminal activities.
