Senator Shehu Buba Explains Ties With Accuser Hassan, Denies Backing Banditry in Bauchi
Senator Shehu Buba, representing Bauchi South Senatorial District, has narrated the history of his relationship with a man identified as Hassan, who publicly accused him and other unnamed politicians of promoting banditry in northern Nigeria, insisting the allegations are baseless and politically motivated.
Speaking in an interview with Albarka Radio in Bauchi, Buba explained that his relationship with Hassan began when the young man was introduced to him as an orphan in need of assistance to continue his education. According to the senator, he subsequently helped arrange educational opportunities for Hassan and connected him with Islamic scholar Musa Yusuf Asadussunnah, who assisted in finding a school where he could receive both Islamic and conventional education. Buba said his concern grew after Hassan later abandoned his education to pursue a car dealership venture instead, a decision that reportedly marked a turning point in their relationship.
The controversy stems from an interview Hassan gave to social media influencer D English Alhaji Media, in which he accused Buba and other unnamed politicians of aiding criminal elements operating across northern Nigeria. According to a report by SaharaReporters, Hassan alleged that individuals linked to notorious bandit kingpin Dogo Gide had been brought to Abuja for specialised training, allegedly facilitated by an aide to Buba at the National Assembly. In a separate account, Hassan explained that his familiarity with Gide dated back to their shared childhood in the same community, insisting his knowledge of the bandit leader was not rooted in any criminal involvement, but stemmed instead from having grown up together before Gide later became involved in banditry.
Buba has firmly rejected the allegations, describing them as part of a campaign by political opponents aimed at damaging his reputation ahead of the 2027 political season, in which he is also seeking the governorship of Bauchi State under the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP). He further alleged that Hassan had secretly photographed and recorded video footage of individuals visiting his residence before their relationship deteriorated. According to the senator, formal complaints had already been lodged with security authorities over the matter, resulting in arrests, with the case now said to be before the courts.
Buba, a former Chairman of the Senate Committee on National Security and Intelligence, used the interview to highlight his broader involvement in Nigeria’s non-kinetic approach to tackling banditry, a soft-power security strategy that seeks to address the root causes of armed criminality without relying solely on military force. He said his team, which included Asadussunnah, had engaged directly with several bandit leaders, including wanted kingpin Bello Turji, as part of efforts to negotiate dialogue-based solutions to insecurity in the region, alongside collaboration with security personnel and prominent clerics nationwide.
The senator, addressing the broader controversy directly, maintained that no external pressure could alter what he described as his destined political path, dismissing what he characterised as social media propaganda targeting him. The matter has since drawn the attention of Nigeria’s Department of State Services, which is reportedly probing the allegations further as the dispute between the senator and his accuser continues to generate significant public attention.
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