Bauchi senator wants police and SSS to look into banditry claims against him

The senator for Bauchi South, Shehu Buba, has called on Nigeria’s security agencies to look into claims that he is linked to banditry, terrorism funding, and kidnapping.

Mr Buba, who is the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) governorship candidate for the 2027 elections, made this known at a press conference in Bauchi on Monday.

He stated that his legal team, led by former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Yakubu Maikyau, had written to the State Security Service (SSS), the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA), and the Nigeria Police Force to request investigations into these claims.

Mr Buba mentioned that he has also voluntarily gone to the SSS for investigation.

“I have nothing to hide, and I have nothing to fear from any legitimate investigation,” he said.

The senator denied any involvement in sponsoring, financing, arming, or supporting banditry, terrorism, kidnapping, or any criminal group.

He urged anyone with proof linking him to these crimes to take it to the security agencies instead of spreading the claims on social media.

Mr Buba said he is ready to face prosecution if investigators find any reasonable evidence against him and will accept the consequences if a court convicts him.

He added that his lawyers provided the security agencies with important documents. These include his September 2025 petition to the police, details of criminal proceedings in the Federal High Court in Abuja, a 7 September 2026 petition asking for Interpol’s help, and links to social media posts that contain some of the claims.

He said copies of these documents were also sent to the National Security Adviser, Chief of Defence Intelligence, Chief of Defence Staff, and Minister of Defence.

The Allegations

Mr Buba’s call for an investigation comes after fresh claims tying him to banditry, which he denied in a statement reported by PREMIUM TIMES on 7 September.

These allegations followed an online interview by a content creator known as D English Alhaji with a man named Hassan Husseini, who had previously been connected to the senator.

Mr Husseini accused the senator of hiding bandit leaders and supporting banditry. He claimed that people linked to a wanted bandit leader named Dogo Gide were brought to Abuja for training with help from one of the senator's aides.

Mr Buba dismissed these claims as misrepresentations of videos and photos shared online.

He explained that he met Mr Husseini in 2024 when he was introduced as an orphan needing educational support.

According to the senator, he enrolled him in a private college in Kaduna and an Islamic school before their relationship soured.

Mr Buba also noted that he filed a criminal complaint against Mr Husseini in the Republic of Niger for alleged defamation and electronic insults.

In October 2025, five defendants were taken to the Federal High Court in Abuja following a police complaint made by the senator.

The charges include criminal conspiracy, cyberstalking, criminal defamation, advance-fee fraud, and extortion.

The case is set to continue on 29 September.

Since 2024, Mr Buba has faced claims regarding suspected bandits.

PREMIUM TIMES previously reported that some individuals he sponsored for the Hajj pilgrimage were suspected to have links to banditry.

The senator accepted that he sponsored people for the pilgrimage but said traditional rulers recommended the beneficiaries after he asked for names.

Mr Buba, who previously chaired the Senate Committee on National Security and Intelligence, said some of his actions in that role are now being misrepresented as ties to criminal groups.

He currently leads the Senate Committee on Livestock and Animal Husbandry.

“If there is evidence against me, let it be shown,” Mr Buba said. “If not, those who have made and spread these claims should also be held responsible under the law.