Sunday Ehigiator
Senator representing Bauchi South Senatorial District, Shehu Buba, has denied having any links with bandits, dismissing viral videos purportedly showing bandit kingpins visiting his residence in Bauchi as fabricated and deliberately manipulated.
Buba, who is also the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Livestock and Animal Husbandry and the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) governorship candidate in Bauchi State, said a fact-check of the videos established that they combined two unrelated clips.
He said the individuals shown in the first video spoke Fulfulde, while those in the second spoke English, stressing that the claim that the footage showed bandits visiting his residence was false.
In a statement titled: “Setting the Record Straight: My Response to Fabricated Videos, False Allegations and a Sustained Campaign of Disinformation”, the senator said the first clip showed Kaduna-based Hajj returnees who visited his residence in 2023, while the second featured different individuals displaying passports.
Buba described the allegations as “false, malicious” and part of a coordinated campaign driven by financial motives and partisan interests rather than genuine concern for truth or accountability.
He challenged individuals or organisations with credible evidence of wrongdoing against him to submit such evidence to the appropriate authorities, insisting that he had nothing to hide or fear from any legitimate investigation.
The senator also urged his supporters not to be provoked by the allegations, saying their attention should remain focused on the 2027 elections and offering Bauchi State a credible alternative built on service, development and security.
“Let us remain calm, disciplined and committed to the democratic process,” he said.
Buba explained that he initially refrained from responding to the allegations because of the sensitive nature of his former responsibility as Chairman of the Senate Committee on National Security and Intelligence.
According to him, national security requires discretion, as publicising certain operational successes could expose sources, endanger individuals and communities or compromise ongoing interventions.