Senator recounts ties with man who accused him of promoting banditry

Senator Shehu Buba says he once helped educate the man now accusing him of supporting banditry in northern Nigeria.

Buba, who represents Bauchi South and is the Peoples Redemption Party’s candidate for the 2027 Bauchi State governorship election, was accused by a man identified as Hassan of aiding criminal groups. Hassan made the allegation in an interview with social media influencer D English Alhaji Media. He also claimed that people linked to bandit leader Dogo Gide were brought to Abuja for specialised training through an aide to Buba at the National Assembly.

In an interview published by Albarka Radio in Bauchi, Buba said Hassan had been introduced to him as an orphan seeking to continue his education. Buba said he connected him with the cleric Musa Asadussunnah, who helped secure admission to Islamic and conventional schools. He also gave Hassan a bicycle to help him travel to school.

“

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.

“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 added that Hassan left school despite his advice.

Buba accused Hassan of secretly recording visitors at his home and passing the material to political opponents to damage his reputation. He said he had filed a petition with the Inspector-General of Police. According to Buba, four suspects were arrested, two in Kano, one in Bauchi and one in Abuja, and court proceedings had begun. He said Hassan had fled to Niger Republic, where he continued live broadcasts allegedly funded by political rivals.

“Those sponsoring him cannot change destiny; if God says I will be, nobody can stop me using social media propaganda against me,” Buba said. As a former chairman of the Senate Committee on National Security and Intelligence, he said he had worked with security officials and clerics on the government’s non-kinetic approach to banditry.

“

Those sponsoring him cannot change destiny; if God says I will be, nobody can stop me using social media propaganda against me.