Bandit kingpins’ video: Senator Shehu Buba defends integrity, says ‘my guber rivals in Bauchi are desperate’

“I will continue to defend my name through lawful means. More importantly, I will continue the work that has defined my public life: serving my constituents, supporting those in need and contributing to the peace and security of our nation. The facts should speak louder than propaganda”.
With above words, governorship candidate of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) in Bauchi State, Senator Shehu Buba Umar, has defended his integrity against allegation that he was hobnobbing with bandits.
Buba, who defected from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to PRP to pursue his governorship ambition, described the allegation as ‘arrant nonsense’.
To the Chairman of Senate Committee on Livestock and Animal Husbandry, people of Bauchi love him and they will vote and elect him in the next general elections.
Buba said: “Let us remain calm, disciplined and committed to the democratic process.
“My decision to leave the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), under whose platform I am pursuing my gubernatorial aspiration, should be debated on policies, competence and vision—not on fabricated allegations.
“It is deeply unfortunate when acts of compassion or legitimate security-related contacts are stripped of context and repackaged as evidence of wrongdoing.
“I welcome scrutiny, But scrutiny must be fair. I do not claim immunity from scrutiny. As a Senator, a former Chairman of the Senate Committee on National Security and Intelligence, currently chairing the Senate Committee on Livestock and Animal Husbandry, and now a gubernatorial candidate, I recognise that my actions and associations will be examined. That is democracy.
“But scrutiny must be based on
facts. There is a difference between investigation and fabrication, between criticism and blackmail, and between political opposition and deliberate character assassination.
“Modern disinformation thrives on recycling old allegations, editing them, attaching new captions and redistributing them until repetition masquerades as evidence”.
Buba appealed to journalists to beware of fake news and doctored videos.
“I appeal to editors, journalists, fact-checkers, civil society organisations and opinion leaders to approach these allegations with professionalism and fairness.
“Verify the videos. Examine their origins. Establish the identities of the individuals involved. Review court records. Consult relevant security institutions. Subject my explanations to scrutiny as well”.
He said he would not bow to blackmail because he has neither sponsored bandits nor hosted bandit kingpins in his house.
He said he has a clean record of service before and after he secured senatorial ticket.
The governorship candidate said Nigerians and people of Bauchi State should feel free to ask him questions on his service.
He said he had taken those behind the manipulated videos to courts in Nigeria and the Court of First Instance in Niger Republic.
Buba said his political opponents were desperate to destroy his image.
He rejected the allegations against him in viral fake videos, describing them as false and malicious.
He said the allegations were part of a coordinated campaign driven by financial motives and partisan interests rather than any genuine concern for truth or accountability.
He challenged individuals and organisations with credible evidence of wrongdoing to submit it to appropriate authorities.
He insisted that he has nothing to hide and nothing to fear from any legitimate investigation.
He also urged his supporters not to be provoked but focus on winning the 2027 elections.
Buba said sensitive nature of his previous committee accounted for his past silence.
He said; “For much of my public life, I have resisted the temptation to respond to every allegation, criticism or provocation directed at me. Citizens have a legitimate right to scrutinise those entrusted with public responsibility, and public officials must be prepared to account for their conduct.
“My election as Senator representing Bauchi South Senatorial District—and particularly my responsibility as Chairman of the Senate Committee on National Security and Intelligence — reinforced the need for restraint. National security demands discretion. Operational successes cannot always be publicised without jeopardising ongoing efforts, exposing sources or endangering individuals and communities involved in sensitive interventions.
“It was in that spirit that I initially declined to respond to the recent circulation of videos purporting to show “high-profile bandit kingpins” visiting my residence. However, the persistent recycling of these materials, accompanied by increasingly serious allegations, makes it necessary to place the facts before Nigerians.”
“For two years, I served as Chairman of the Senate Committee on National Security and Intelligence, a role that placed me at the intersection of legislative oversight, intelligence, security policy and engagement with communities affected by insecurity.
“Throughout that period, I supported a comprehensive approach to security. While kinetic operations are necessary, I consistently advocated complementary non-kinetic strategies involving community engagement, dialogue, intelligence gathering, deradicalisation and confidence-building.
“Nigeria cannot defeat insecurity by military force alone. Sustainable security requires winning the trust of vulnerable communities, strengthening local intelligence networks and
creating pathways for cooperation with legitimate authorities.
“Some of these interventions cannot responsibly be discussed in detail. Revealing identities of intermediaries or operational information could endanger patriotic citizens and
undermine ongoing efforts.
“My silence on such matters should never be interpreted as an absence of service”.