SHARIA COUNCIL DEMANDS NSA, DSS PROBE INTO ALLEGED LINKS BETWEEN SENATOR SHEHU BUBA AND BANDITRY

The Supreme Council for Shariah in Nigeria (SCSN) has called on the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) to investigate and clarify their dealings with Senator Shehu Buba Umar following renewed allegations linking the Bauchi South lawmaker to banditry and terrorism.

The council also demanded a swift, thorough and independent investigation into the allegations, insisting that the findings should be made public to the extent permitted by law and legitimate national security considerations.

The renewed controversy follows allegations made publicly by a man identified as Hassan, who has appeared in a series of videos hosted by social media influencer D English Alhaji. Hassan has alleged that Senator Buba was connected to individuals involved in banditry and had facilitated activities involving people allegedly linked to notorious criminal groups.

Hassan specifically alleged that some individuals associated with notorious bandit kingpin Dogo Gide were brought to Abuja and allegedly received training in areas including drone operations and professional sniping. He also alleged that one of the individuals involved, identified as Adam, previously worked as an aide to Senator Buba at the National Assembly. These claims remain allegations and have not been established by a court.

The allegations have generated significant public attention because of Senator Buba’s previous position as Chairman of the Senate Committee on National Security and Intelligence and his reported interactions with Nigeria’s security agencies on issues concerning terrorism, banditry and other security threats.

In response to the renewed controversy, the Supreme Council for Shariah said it was important for the DSS and the Office of the National Security Adviser to explain the nature of their previous engagements with the senator.

The council said its own engagement with successive Nigerian administrations has focused on finding solutions to terrorism, insurgency, banditry, kidnapping and other forms of violent crime. It explained that its consultations had included discussions with the Office of the National Security Adviser, the DSS and the military leadership.

According to the organisation, Senator Buba became involved in some of those engagements because of his official responsibilities at the National Assembly, particularly his role as chairman of the Senate committee responsible for national security and intelligence.

The council maintained that, to the best of its knowledge, the senator’s interactions with security institutions were connected to legitimate efforts to support Nigeria’s security architecture and discussions around non-kinetic approaches to tackling terrorism and banditry.

The SCSN said it had previously defended Senator Buba in 2024 when similar allegations emerged. At the time, the organisation said it believed accusations involving terrorism and national security should be subjected to proper investigation rather than being used as instruments of political persecution.

However, with the allegations resurfacing, the council said security authorities now have a responsibility to “clear the air” regarding the senator’s dealings with the DSS and the Office of the National Security Adviser.

It specifically asked the two security institutions to clarify, within the limits imposed by national security requirements, the nature and circumstances of their engagements with Buba, particularly those connected to efforts to address terrorism and banditry.

The council said such clarification would help Nigerians distinguish between legitimate security-related engagements and any alleged activities that may have been improperly portrayed as government-authorised operations.

Beyond the request for clarification, the SCSN called for the allegations against Senator Buba to be independently investigated. It urged authorities to establish the facts and make the outcome known to Nigerians where disclosure would not compromise ongoing investigations or national security.

The council also warned against allowing allegations involving terrorism and national security to become tools for political character assassination.

It urged politicians, journalists, civil society organisations and members of the public to exercise restraint while the matter is being investigated, stressing that credible allegations should be properly examined but unsubstantiated accusations should not automatically be treated as established facts.

The controversy has also placed renewed attention on the silence of Nigeria’s major security institutions regarding the allegations. Reports have indicated that the DSS, military authorities and ONSA had not publicly addressed the accusations in detail at the time of publication.

The issue is particularly sensitive because of the seriousness of the allegations. Any proven connection between a serving federal lawmaker and terrorist or bandit networks would have significant national security implications. At the same time, false or politically motivated accusations against public officials could equally undermine public confidence in genuine counterterrorism investigations.

Senator Buba has previously rejected allegations linking him to criminal networks. His camp has described the claims as an attempt to damage his reputation, while the senator has maintained that his engagements with security institutions were connected to legitimate national security responsibilities.

The renewed allegations have also emerged amid a broader political controversy surrounding the senator. Buba has faced criticism and public scrutiny over his political activities, while supporters have argued that the accusations are being amplified for political reasons.

The Supreme Council for Shariah’s latest intervention therefore seeks to shift the focus from competing accusations and denials to an official investigation capable of determining what actually occurred.

The council’s demand also places responsibility on the DSS and ONSA to explain whether their past engagements with the senator were part of approved government security initiatives and, if so, the nature and limits of those engagements.

For Nigerians concerned about the country’s worsening insecurity, the demand for an independent investigation could provide an opportunity for security agencies to address the allegations with evidence rather than allowing the controversy to continue through social media claims and counterclaims.

Until such an investigation is conducted and its findings established, the allegations against Senator Shehu Buba remain unproven.

Street News Reporters will continue to follow developments, including any response from Senator Buba, the DSS, the Office of the National Security Adviser and other relevant security authorities.