Senator Shehu Buba, representing Bauchi South Senatorial District, is facing renewed scrutiny following allegations linking him to banditry and terrorism financing. The accusations, originally reported by Saturday PUNCH, trace back to late 2024 and involve claims that the lawmaker and his aides aided criminal elements in northern Nigeria.
The latest controversy arose from a local social media interview where a resident accused the senator of orchestrating political protection for bandits and facilitating specialized training in Abuja for associates of notorious bandit kingpin Dogo Gide. In response, Senator Buba strongly denied the claims, attributing them to political opponents attempting to damage his reputation through sponsored online propaganda. The lawmaker stated that he had filed a formal petition with the Inspector General of Police, resulting in the arrest of several suspects, while accusing the primary accessor of fleeing to the Niger Republic.
These recent claims compound earlier allegations from September 2024, when Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed submitted a petition to President Tinubu. The governor alleged that a senior legislative aide to Senator Buba registered and funded a suspected Zamfara bandit and another individual for the Hajj pilgrimage. Security operatives subsequently intervened, leading to the arrest of the suspect by the Department of State Services.
Further controversy emerged in 2025 following media reports accusing the senator of facilitating an unauthorized peace deal with wanted terror kingpin Bello Turji. In response to the 2025 reports, Buba’s legal team petitioned the Force Criminal Investigation Department, alleging cyberstalking, criminal conspiracy, and defamation by individuals orchestrating a coordinated smear campaign.
The allegations have drawn mixed reactions from political figures and associates. Mukhtar Gwarzo, a long-time associate of the senator, defended Buba's integrity and called for a comprehensive investigation by the DSS and the National Assembly to establish the facts clearly. Conversely, former Minister of Youth and Sport Solomon Dalung advocated for an independent legislative probe and transparency from security agencies, emphasizing that public office must not shield anyone from accountability regarding national security matters.
Police authorities in Bauchi State noted that no formal complaint had been filed directly with their command regarding the latest viral claims, while federal security agencies continue to withhold formal statements pending ongoing investigations.