Top Nigerian Senator Accused Of Sponsoring Banditry, Declares Governorship Bid
Top Nigerian Senator Accused Of Sponsoring Banditry, Declares Governorship Bid
The senator formally joined the race on Saturday, a move that has stunned observers given the cloud of accusations hanging over his name.
Acontroversial lawmaker representing Bauchi South, Senator Shehu Umar Buba, has declared for the 2027 governorship race in Bauchi State, igniting fresh outrage over lingering allegations linking him to banditry across Northern Nigeria.
The senator formally joined the race on Saturday, a move that has stunned observers given the cloud of accusations hanging over his name.
Critics argue that his political ambition comes at a time when he is yet to publicly clear himself of serious claims bordering on national security.
SaharaReporters had on August 12, 2025 reported that Senator Shehu Umar Buba (APC–Bauchi South), Chairman of the Senate Committee on National Security and Intelligence, faced mounting criticism over a series of controversies.
These included an alleged peace deal with wanted terror kingpin, Bello Turji, allegations of fuelling religious tensions in Plateau State, and past claims of sponsoring wanted bandits to the Hajj pilgrimage.
The senator has also come under fire in Plateau State for allegedly stoking sectarian conflict between two Islamic sects in Jos.
Also in September 2025, the Arewa Youth Movement (AYM), a prominent umbrella body of Northern youths, publicly called for his investigation and prosecution.
Addressing a press conference in Abuja, the group had urged the Inspector General of Police to probe Senator Buba over alleged ties to banditry and related criminal activities devastating the region.
The spokesman of the movement, Comrade Yahaya Garba, made explosive claims during the briefing, alleging that the senator had links to the distribution of motorcycles to bandits operating in Zamfara State.
He had further accused Umar of facilitating medical treatment for injured fighters and being connected to violent incidents in Plateau State.
The group warned that such allegations — if proven — could severely undermine ongoing efforts to combat insecurity in the North, where communities continue to grapple with relentless attacks, mass displacement, and economic paralysis.
Highlighting the human cost of the crisis, the AYM had noted that banditry and kidnapping had claimed countless lives, shattered families, and crippled livelihoods across multiple states.
They stressed that holding public officials accountable is critical to restoring public confidence in Nigeria’s security institutions and upholding the rule of law.
Despite the weight of these accusations, Senator Umar’s entry into the governorship race signals what many are calling a bold —and controversial — political gamble, raising pressing questions about accountability, leadership, and the future of security in Bauchi State.
