Senator Shehu Buba: A Target of Sustained Misinformation By Bashir Umar Kirfi
Another faceless group with faceless names has resurfaced, recycling a debunked and discredited report against Senator Shehu Buba. This time, the allegations came from a so-called “Plateau Progressive Movement” (PPM) and its supposed spokesperson, one “Comrade Dachum Daniel Kajang.” A simple online search reveals the obvious: this group appeared for the very first time with a libelous and derogatory statement targeting Senator Buba. There is no prior footprint, no trace of its existence—digital or physical.
The allegations themselves are not new. They are a rehash of old claims by political detractors who once accused Senator Buba of sympathizing with bandits, a charge he has consistently dismissed as baseless and politically motivated. In response to earlier attempts to link him with a wanted bandit kingpin, a coalition of civil society groups in Bauchi State had openly defended him, insisting that the smear was nothing but a calculated ploy to weaken his rising popularity ahead of the 2027 elections.
On the surface, such allegations appear grave. But a closer look at the latest repetition reveals their hollowness. The so-called group has no office, no social media handle, and no identifiable leadership. It has provided no details of alleged victims, no hospital records, and no verifiable facts. What exists instead is a phantom organization designed as a weapon of political propaganda.
It is worth remembering that attempts to tarnish the image of public officials are not new in Nigeria. Senator Buba himself has faced similar controversies in the past, only for them to collapse under scrutiny. In the current instance, the absence of credible details makes the accusations even weaker. Meanwhile, the narrative being pushed contradicts on-the-ground realities. In recent months, Toro and Tafawa Balewa Local Government Areas—once troubled—have experienced relative peace, a development inconsistent with claims that Buba is fueling insecurity.
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Ironically, those who accuse him of collusion with criminals overlook his work as Chairman of the Senate Committee on National Security and Intelligence, where he has become a leading voice for a paradigm shift in Nigeria’s fight against insecurity. Senator Buba has consistently argued for complementing military action with non-kinetic approaches. He emphasizes that while force can provide temporary respite, sustainable peace requires addressing root causes such as poverty, grievances, and fractured social relations. As he has repeatedly noted, “Peace is not declared at the end of a gun barrel; it is built through trust, fairness, and shared prosperity.”
His stance is not theoretical. Drawing on his academic training in Peace Studies and Conflict Management, Buba has championed dialogue, reconciliation, and socio-economic renewal. He has pushed for community-led initiatives and engagement with stakeholders across divides. These efforts have earned him endorsements from several.groups which credit him with reducing clashes between farmers and herders in volatile areas.
Recently, a group praised Buba’s collaboration with the Office of the National Security Adviser and other stakeholders, saying it had led to a more balanced and humane approach to security management. This recognition underscores the stark contrast between the Senator’s constructive work and the baseless smears hurled at him.
On the ground in Bauchi South Senatorial District, Buba has backed up his rhetoric with action. He has supported families of slain vigilantes, provided developmental projects to strengthen community resilience, and prioritized initiatives that directly address local insecurity. His record as the only APC senator from Bauchi State further shows a lawmaker focused on legislative duties, not petty distractions.
Critics may argue that politicians must always answer allegations. But as an Arabic proverb wisely notes: “If a dog cannot harm you except with its barking, let it bark until the Day of Resurrection.” Not every baseless attack deserves a response. Yet the coordinated nature of these repeated allegations makes a rebuttal necessary—not to dignify the falsehoods but to expose the cynical motives behind them.
What is unfolding is not a genuine outcry of concerned citizens, but a carefully orchestrated attempt to dent the reputation of a senator whose political influence is growing. This is the unfortunate reality of Nigeria’s political arena, where smear campaigns too often replace constructive debate.
In the end, the allegations against Senator Shehu Buba Umar are not only unsubstantiated but emblematic of the wider decay in political culture. When phantom groups manufacture lies to destroy reputations, it undermines democracy and weakens citizens’ ability to focus on real governance issues. Nigerians must rise above rumor and demand fact-based discourse. Only then can the nation protect both its institutions and the integrity of those elected to serve.
Bashir Umar Kirfi writes from Gombe Road, Bauchi
